Ready for April

I am ready for a new month! This has been an exceptionally hard month for me. We've had some personal struggles and definitely some exercise struggles! The first week spent in California resulted in no exercising. The following week was spent playing catch up, not much happening that week either. Then, we had the whole heart rate scare that kept me barely moving for an entire week. And finally, I started this week off strong, only to get sick and end up in bed for a day and a half.

Well, I think I am on my way to recovery. I plan on doing a great long run on Sunday to start the month of April strong! I have seen such a decrease in performance over the last month. I am ready to get out there and start my spring running season strong. Of course, I have a girl's night out planned for Saturday, so I'll have to keep myself under control in order to get a good run in on Sunday.

The one thing about being sick is the weight loss. Yikes! When I jumped on the scale this morning, it read out at 124.6. I'll have to make that up by eating a lot this next week. Most of the weight loss was probably water, but I still like to tell myself to eat more. So on that note, have a wonderful weekend eating everything in sight!!!

Getting my energy back

Well I had my first period. I totally forgot how exhausting it is. After my Dr appt on Monday, I decided it was time to get motivated. I am now committed to running 3 or 4 times a week and start doing speed work regularly. I tried to do speed work here and there, but I never stuck to it. So with that said, my period picks the week I get myself motivated to return!

I did do some interval work on Monday. We did eight two minute repeats, with one minute recoveries. I was definitely feeling it. Tuesday I got my period, but I did the Incline on Wednesday anyway. I felt like my lower back was going to give out the entire time. I also tried out my inhaler on Wednesday, but I was in too much of a funk over the period to really know what it did for me, if anything. Thursday I did my ultimate conditioning class. Friday should have been a running day for me, but I rested. I was sooo tired. Saturday afternoon, I got up enough energy to do a 4.5 mile run. Twenty minutes of it was tempo, so I did push it a bit. And then Sunday was my ladies run. I was exhausted and my legs were feeling the tempo run from 15 hours earlier, so I hate to say I didn't have much oomph. Overall it wasn't a bad week. Mentally I felt miserable.

I did map out my periods for the next six months to see if I will be menstruating on a race day. Right now, if my 28 day cycle returns, there is no over lap. How lucky is that!

This week will be a strong week for me. I will do an interval workout, a tempo run, my UC class, spin class and a long run on Sunday. Sharon recommended the two minute repeats, but I am going to talk to others to find out what else works. She said for beginners the two minutes were the best. I should probably stick with that, but I want to explore all my options. A few months ago, I tried doing a ladder interval workout and that was awesome. I might have to alternate between the two. Today though, I'll do the two minutes. It gives me a little over a quarter mile, so it is better than quarter mile repeats but not as draining as half mile repeats, which I know some people do.

Let's hope this is a good week for me!!

Good news!

The Dr's appt was great. My heart is all within normal ranges, thank goodness! The spikes are due to classic symptoms of sports induced asthma. So for the next couple weeks, when I am doing any hard runs I should use the inhaler. If that helps, all is great and I will continue using it. If it doesn't help, then she may refer me to a specialist. I got my tetanus shot, which I haven't gotten since high school. I will also be seeing a dermatologist to check out all my moles. Since I am 30, I need to get a base line exam. We looked at the larger ones and a few of the abnormal smaller ones, but nothing was out of the ordinary. It will be a good piece of mind to have the base line exam done.

So now I don't have to be so worried when I run... that week was brutal! I can worry about more important things like what I am going to eat when I'm done running, ha ha. Bring on the speed training! (and I really mean that since I haven't done any in a while)

Dr Appt tomorrow

Well I am happy to say I have a Dr appointment tomorrow. The thought of there being something seriously wrong with me was horrible! After all, I have all these races planned... just joking. I was seriously worried about my wonderful family. So I spent Wed - Fri looking online at all the things that could potentially be wrong with me, which of course is the worst thing to do. Then Saturday, Harsha and I looked at some other info that made me feel like there is . nothing wrong. I'll find out tomorrow, however now I think there is no problem.... we'll see.

We did take it easy today on our run though. I got to push a little on the hills, but I'm concentrating on my heart a lot. Hopefully I won't have to do that as much after my appt. It's one thing to monitor my zone and another to worry about fainting over when I'm running with my lady friends. Harsha had a great breakfast waiting for me when I got home, as always.

Anyway, it was another week of easy workouts. That is three in a row, counting the one week in California when I did nothing. Keeping my fingers crossed, tomorrow I can start doing more quality work outs again. I also had to fore go the St Patrick's 5K yesterday. Oh well. Now I plan on doing a club 5K that is a lot of fun - The tortoise and hare 5K. When I did it in 2005, my handicap was around 5:22. It might even be more this time around since I am older. When I did it in 2005, I finished in 27:21. I can blow that out of the water now, so it will be a lot of fun. I had only been running for 3.5 months when I did it in 2005 too. I have to give myself a lot of credit for that. I love comparing myself to my 2005 race results though, so I can see the progress I am making.

I'll check in tomorrow to say I am beyond healthy, I really hope!

Getting back into the groove

Vacation was fabulous! We had a wonderful time, however I didn't exercise a single time. It was good for me though. I am struggling to get back into the groove now. I was planning on running a 5K this Saturday. I'll see how I am feeling later this week. I may decide to run it and have fun. I think that will most likely be what happens - run, but not push myself. Right now I don't think I could run much faster than an 8:45 pace. I'm such a slug after our vacation!

I did do the Incline last week, the day after I got home. My lungs were hurting, but my body felt strong. I was sure it would take me a lot longer to get to the top, however I did it in 36:22. Not too bad, especially considering how my lungs felt. I didn't expect that feeling. I guess I thought I would adjust back to the altitude very quickly. Yes, you may smile, I thought less than 12 hours and I would be there. I was so wrong!

I also got in a couple short runs and then a long run yesterday. During the long run, I got a few pointers from my friend who is currently coaching at the Olympic Training Center. I'm so glad I ran into her at the YMCA. I was reading some of my posts from Aug/Sept time and came upon one about how unmotivated I was because of some ladies I met at the Y and how I would be avoiding them all. I'm so glad I didn't snub this lady, because she is a gem.

Right now I am in a good place. I truly enjoy everyone I am running with. I wish more of my lady friends were more regular about running with us, since that is the only time I get to catch up with them. Hopefully we can get some lady nights together soon!

One more thing.... I got IN!!! I am officially registered for the first wave of the Pikes Peak Ascent!!! YAY!!! I am so excited. My estimated finish time is 3:45 right now, but I think I can do better. We'll see how training goes. I will be training more than last time (5 weeks of training), so I think I should be a lot stronger. We'll see after the first couple times to the top. If I can manage a jog above treeline, I will be around 3:30. If I can only hike, it will be 3:45. I'll keep my fingers crossed that I can get in enough very high altitude training and build up that endurance level.