Marathon Training Begins

It has been hard for me to keep up on this. Life just keeps getting busier...but better  :-) I have one of the most supportive husbands a runner could ask for. He is there to help, support and keep me in line. He really cares about how I train and wants me to do my best. My family especially my mother is right there too. Encouraging me and being my cheerleader. This is the first time I have truly trained since college. And it feels good to have a plan. But man.... I don't know how I did it for 4 years straight!!!! But this is how it has gone so far...

December 17
Was going to do this on the track right after school but it was cooler than I packed for. I went home and got ready and marked off a loop on a nearby trail. It was all grass/trails. I told myself that my times may be slightly slower due to this and the wind. My workout was 3x 1 mile at 6:12. Well I ended up going 6:18 on each one with 1 minute rest. They felt really good and relaxed. I just couldn't switch into a faster gear. I wasn't happy with my times but was happy for how I felt. It's the first workout in a 16 week period...I should be happy. Did 2 miles as a warm up and cooled down three and a half miles. The test today was mentally. Usually if I feel crumby or can't hit my times I push it off to another day. However, my schedule doesn't allow that so I stuck to my guns and kept pushing.

December 18
Slightly sore, not too bad. Gorgeous day!!! I ended up going for 8.5 mile recovery run...yep not smart but the weather was so amazing!! I am starting to get sick. Coughing, sore throat and can't breath. I also need to hydrate better.

December 19
Feeling icky, as in sick. So it was apparent that today needed to be my day off. Rest and planned
activities for my kiddos at school. Getting so excited for Christmas!

December 20

Workout #2... Got out of school late plus extreme winds I decided to hit the treadmill.todays workout was 2 miles gradually increasing pace 2 miles at 6:40 pace 2 miles down. I played around with the incline on the treadmill to make it like outdoor running. This was terrible. I was about to go I sane on the dreadmill. I am still feeling sick and felt lightheaded. Oh well, I go through this. Spent the rest often evening baking 50 sugar cookies and other treats!! Baked for two hours...yes my kiddos are spoiled!!!!

December 21

Had a blast with my kiddos today!! Cookie decorating, hot cocoa, sweet treats, lunch in the room, and amovie!! :-) Today is a cross training day. Hit the stairmill for an hour at the gym. Saw some of my old clients and had people to talk to the whole time which was nice. Then saw Liz and we had a nice chat while walking uphill on the treadmill for 45 minutes. I definitely loosened up the legs. The. Met my aunt and mom for a pedicure!!! Great ending to my week!

December 22

Shopping day... Also had a head cold hit me last night... Hard core...blah... However, I have to do my shopping I am way behind. I shopped with my mom from 11-4 then went out again on my own and then met Liz for dinner at Zoup! I was craving hot soup because it was cold and I wasn't feeling well. I came home and  decided to get on the bike. I knew tomorrow has to be my first long run some went easy for an hour on my trainer! I think it was really good for my legs and loosened up my sinuses a bit. Wrapped presents the rest of the night.

December 23

Woke up and had a good breakfast and ended up falling back asleep after with my hubby! I woke up around 10 and set out for my long run. I am nervous because I am suppose to go 13 miles and have only gone 12 in my life. I still am not feeling 100%. I am also thinking in my head will my body break, will I be able to finish, should I really be training for a marathon right now?! Yes, I was psyching myself out of this run before even starting. I decided to run for time... I plugged in my gps on my phone and tracked my distance but didn't listen or check it. I knew I was going to run 1 hour and 43 minutes and that's all I looked at. I overdressed....it was warm and an awesome day to run. I stayed mostly on grass and trails had some roads. The first time I looked at my watch I had been running 50 minutes! Wahoo!! I thought it ad only been 30 minutes. I was enjoying g the run, feeling great, and thinking about how much I have to be blessed for. How blessed I am to able to run....how much I am going to be missing 2 important family members this Christmas... By the next time I looked at my watch it was time to be heading back to the house. I started to get a little tight in my hip but a stretch was the quick fix. Note to self....more stretching and foam rolling. I felt amazing when I finished. I checked my gps...14.1 miles....whoa!!!! I was running a 7:21 pace average. Oops....I guess I was thinking too much but the pace was natural. I know I will need to slow down a little next week when it gets longer. I felt accomplished and proud of myself and now I know I can make it through this training! Now it's time to finish shopping and bake some cookies for Christmas with the Baumgarts. It was a blast!!! My new family is great! Good laughs with the game catch phrase:-) and yummy choco balls from lics!!!:-) I wish my husband was feeling better :-(

December 24

CHRISTMAS EVE!!!!
I love love love Christmas time. My husband and I slept in had a nice breakfast and just layed around this am. Then we decided we needed to do a little workout before all the food we were going to have. He lifted while I rode on the cross trainer. I rode for 90 minutes making sure to I corporate hills and sprints! Then we headed to Haubstadt. Christmas on my dads side. Good to my Grammie!:-) then stayed all night at moms for our early morning rise! We watched the family stone had some sweet treats and fell asleep by 11 oops :-)

December 25

CHRISTMAS DAY
John woke us up a little later than usual...5 am it's typically 4 am:-) he made cinnamon rolls, bacon, and the all of our sweet treats. Then my favorite part....presents!! Wow... My momma knows how to shop for me she picked me out some cute outfits I think she picks better than I do! She also got me two DVDs about the ironman...wow!! This is my ultimate goal!! Marathon is a stepping stone to this goal! It's a tradition that once everyone has opened we start a movie. We started a movie and oooops Andrew and I were out. When I woke up I had to I media rely get ready for my workout. If we get this blizzard, I won't be able to hit the track. So I hit the track in Haubstadt....the wind was picking up but didn't let that go to my head. I had 6x800 @ 2:58 pace with 2 min recovery. The recovery time was more than I am use to so that is good! But then again I haven't gone fast in so long! Well....I nailed it!! A few were a little fast but it was all right at 2:58 and had 2 min jog recovery! Yay!! I did it! Time to enjoy the rest of the day at my aunts!! Great times, food and fun! More catch phrase! Then it was time for Andrew and it's Christmas for each other. He is so amazing....I can't express how much I love him and how much of a blessing he is to me.

Family is what's important in life!

Wednesday was Data Wise a downtown. It was a lot of information to take in but it was nice to take a step back from the constantly hectic classroom. After the meeting, I came home and ran the trails. It felt awesome I got in 9 miles! Spent the rest of the. Ight with my amazing husband:-)

Thursday...had a pretty good day with my kiddos. There is some work going on the school roof so that made for lots of distractions. I came home and it was almost dark so I rode on my trainer for 1 hour and 35 minutes. Watched 3 episodes of Reba again. I love that show!!

Friday...whoa...what a Friday...first thing in the morning I was booted out of my room bc it was a safety hazard. My students surprisingly transitioned very well and I had to teach in the library. However, I am stoked that my kiddos finally picked up on multiplication. This was the thirs strategy I taught and it clicked!! Best feeling of being a teacher is when students ask if they can do more!! The rest of the day went pretty well! I came home and I was BEAT....I ended up falling asleep on the couch!! Ooooops....no working out just rest. Spent the evening with my hubby.

Saturday...race at thunderbolt golf course. Legs felt icky on the warm up. Did about 2 miles. The race was a bit short but finished at 18:10. I felt awesome!! I think I would have ran right at 19:00. I was just happy how relaxed this felt. It was all grass and had some hills so,I believe I could go sub 19 on the road right now easily. Just needed to get a little speed on my legs. My moms ca,e to support me since my hubby had to work. I am so blessed to have so much support in my life. I went on 4 mile cool down after the race.

Also, keep her friend Jean Dollison in your prayers, she was in that awful crash on Lloyd Friday.

The rest of my saturday consisted of a nap, cleaning, laundry, and 4 hours of lesson planning!

Sunday...
2012 cookie bake!!!

Lesson planned for a few more hours this am. Went for a 9.5 mile trail run and I got lost ahhhh!! Felt really good. However, my Achilles is very sore so I'm going to rest it a bit this week.

Ate waywayway too much at the cookie bake but I had a blast with my family. Everything we've been through it feels good to laugh and joke together :)

Have a great week everyone...remember don't take one moment for granit and try not to stress over little things...it's nothing in the scheme of things.

Going to try this again!

Well hello!! I stopped this about 8 months ago when life changed for me in so many ways.

First, I became engaged to my soulmate and best friend. It was the most exciting thing that had happened to me. A few days later, our family suffered a tragic loss that we are still trying to recover for . We loss my beautiful and talented cousin, Jennifer. Not a day goes by that I do not think of her. Soon after that, her father my godparent died. A few mo ths after that, my Uncle Eric died and again way too young. He is the reason I am a Cowboys fan. During that time, my cousins 3 year old daughter had been fighting a brain tumor but through all this hurt and suffering, God cured her tumor and also brought my Jeffrey out of his dark times and he is now working out, running, going to College and starting a job! I also married my best friend who has been my rock through all of this. I also was blessed by God to receive my first contracted teaching position. I am a 4th grade inclusion teacher. These kiddos keep me on my toes and majority of the time send me home with little to no energy. My hard core training over the past few months went from my intense hardcore training to moderate training that focused on just getting out and moving and staying injury free. I really had not had the energy to train over the past months. Instead, I have relocated my passion for running. I am running, enjoying it, and am injury free. Over the past 5 years since I had to end my college career early due to injury I have not a had longer than a 2 month stretch without some sort of injury. 

I have started focusing on living life and enjoying each second I have with my loved ones. My family has formed an even tighter bond through all of this and we no longer take our time for granite. I also take in every second I have with my husband. Being married is awesome and I am just so happy to have someone who loves me for me. He doesn't care how fast I am, what my profession is, or what I wear he just loves me and I can't express how good that feels!

So why am I blogging again?! An outlet...pretty much :-)

I am actually going to try to train again. I have been logging about 8-9 miles 4-5 days a week with at least one off day and 2 weight days.

Started racing again...
Thanksgiving.... Yuck....19:40 no speed or turnover...I wasn't tired but couldn't go! I guess it's true when you just run for distance you lose a little natural speed.
Did a slow 18 mile ride the day after for recover ....it was super cold and windy!!
Get Dirty 15k and my hubby did the 10k...BRRRRRRRR!! Also.... This is my longest race ever. I have done 2 10ks in my life lol. I loved this race and felt strong!! 
20:30
41:40
1:03:30
My splits! Wanted to be faster but settled in and did not have anyone to run with! I am ready to go long and thinking about seriously starting my marathon training. I am thinking about April marathon so my decision will be made in the next few weeks. I loved this race it was clearly marked and nice trails!!!
7.5 mile recovery run on Sunday and an hour walk with my husband and dog Cody through the trails.
Monday...REST
Tuesday... My mom gave me her cyclops trainer!!!! She only used it once so it's brand new and super nice. I watched three episodes of Reba so I got in 90 minutes. I was surprised that I could work myself harder than I feel like I do on a spin bike!! 

So that's about it and let's see if I can keep this up!! :>

I am always look for tri ing partners so let me know my hours are kind of hard for training right now because I get to school when it's dark and usually leave as it is almost dark.

One more thing...a HUGE shutout to my mother for starting her training again! She faced the turkey trot 5k agai. For the first time in 5 years!! I am going to be dragging her with me to these races again!! 

June...

Whoa...what a month it has been. Sometimes I feel like our family can't catch a break... But out of all the hurt and sorrow we have recovered and grown closer. It makes me happy to see happiness come back to my aunt and cousin. As for myself, I am happy with training. I still can't run as much but I'm getting there. I was able to run in a 5k and used it as a tempo. This would have been the first time my legs have seen sub 7 pace since March. I ran a 20:15 and it felt relaxed! I was happy just to run:-) biking is also going well...need to S W I M. I did crash the other day on my bike but it wasn't as intense as my running fall...I'm a little banged up but nothing that is keeping me from training. I have still been doing my intense weight circuits but my cardio has gotten that intense yet. I also just found out I am going to be the 4th grade language arts/social studies teacher at Evans! So... I have a wedding and a room to get together...crazy busy summer...because I am also teaching summer school... But i am enjoying it I also have the best support system ever. My wedding party has been awesome!! Love you all...I'm also excited to say my mother is going to be my Matron of Honor. She is my best friend!

12 weeks later...

On Good Friday, I took a fall during a long run. It had become very painful and swollen but I thought this was just normal. I gave it a few weeks of swimming and rest. I tried to run the Wednesday before my Spartan race and I should have listened to my body. The pain was intense. I could barely walk...I was in pain in position I was in. I went to the doc And got a lot of feedback...some thought meniscus, or bursae, or the fat bad of the knee. Some thought it was just a bruise. I went through weeks of anti inflammatories, ice, compression, and PT. I could mainly just lift weights but even that flared it up some. Everything was painful...just walking was painful. Finally, after 4 weeks my doctor recommended a cortisone shot...I was iffy but I needed relief. It began to work after a week with walking, but everything else was still painful. I kept up with therapy and gradually I was able to do more and more. Biking finally came about 2 weeks post cortison. Stairs are still iffy...running is getting there. I'm using trial and error. If it hurts I stop and do something else. Last night, I went for a run and made it 25 mins and had minimal pain as long as my brace was snug. My knee did not swell and it did not cause pain that woke me up in the middle of the night. It also doesn't seem to be too sore today. This is a positive sign:-) I am taking it very slow and hope to race late fall...but again it's going to be slow...my first goal is to be healthy enough to run the color run for my bachelorette party and just enjoy it. I am having fun being engaged and planning a wedding. I am also teaching summer school all summer. I have enough to keep me busy. I do however want to carry out my sponsorship so I promise to be back. But for now, I am taking it easy and allowing the recovery process to take its course. Just wanted to keep everyone who read this updated!

Happy 1 year!!

Wednesday...
Happy one year to my fiancé and I!! :-) I prepared him a pretty sweet surprise...:-) he cried! Go me...after school and track went to the gym...30 min stairs, 10 mile bike...4 mile run...good day.
Thursday...
30 min stairs
2 mile tempo 12:20 6:10 pace
Rows superset with squat press
Cable rows superset with box jumps
1 leg rows superset with inverted push ups
Lunges around gym
2 miles easy
Friday...
Thank you God for sending your son to die for our sins...wow how selfless...it makes me feel guilty and be a better person... Thank you God for forgiving me day in and out! I love you and give you praise.
Perfect running weather!!!!!!! Wow :-) just went out on a run didn't know how far I'd go...well started off good at 7:20 pace and felt relaxed...then I was watching some bikers ahead and one had fallen off his bike...so I was watching and next thing I knew I was falling off the side of the road slammed my knee on pave,ent ripped my pants and skinned up my hands. I was so embarrassed I got up immediately and kept running. I ran through the pain andit eventually went away. Kept all my miles sub 7:20 and the last mile was sub 7. Finished 9.5...felt awesome could have went forever. I iced my knee and stiffness kicked in...I struggled walking the rest of the day...ugh....I hope this goes away...

Back at it...

Thurs.
8.5 mile run quicker than Tuesday's. Felt good. Great day with my mom. Mani/pedi, engagement outfit shopping and a repay session. My mother is amazing and my best friend.
Friday
Rest. Engagement pictures and family time.
Saturday
9 miles this morning. Quick clip. Could have kept going. Bridesmaids day!! Got all of their stuff done...dress,shoes,jewelry and hair accessories.
Sunday
2 mile up
1 mile 5:55
800 m 2:55
5.5 easy run
Woooooo! Tired.
Monday
Need a day off of the foot. I went to the gym did 1.5 of stairs and a 21 mile bike at 19 mph
Tuesday
Came home to my man... We went on a run. I did a bit shorter run but kept the pace up. It felt awesome outside!!!
7:18
7:11
7:08
7:02
7:03
6:40
Got in 6.25 in 43:45
Tomorrow marks 1 year of love!!!:-)