Yikes, snakes!

Yes, we saw a rattle snake yesterday! It wasn't a real big one, but that doesn't mean no threat. The little one's are still poisonous. It is that time of year to keep our eyes peeled when running trails. I forgot all about that! We did have an excellent run yesterday. We did trails in the Garden, so lots of up and down. I started my period Saturday night, so I was a little sluggish. I am also starting to ween Miles, so I had an engorgement problem too. With that stacked against me, I still made it out and had a good run. I often wonder, if men had these types of problems, would they still run? A lot of men I know would stay home in bed.

Last week was a good week overall. I enjoyed my workouts. I felt like I did some very good, quality workouts and they didn't kill me. Hopefully I will have another week like that.

So what is in store for this week? I am taking it easy today (period). I think when the kids go to bed, I will lift weights. Tomorrow I will do some running with strides. Wed is my morning on the mountain. I am excited about Wednesday, because I patched things up with a friend of mine and she will be doing Wed and Fri mornings with us. She was the person I turned to when things were very bad between Harsha and I last year, then in the Fall, my feelings were very hurt by her. I couldn't take it anymore, so I called her and now everything is back to normal. One more friend to train with, Yay! It makes me so happy, especially considering some of my closest friends are my training buddies. Anyway, back to this week. Thursday I will do a short run and some more weight training. Friday my tempo run. Saturday will be a swim clinic. And finally, Sunday a long run on Sante Fe trail. It is looking like a great week.

One more thing, I sent the cool running log link to all the ladies. We are sending each other our shared links, so we can start checking out each other's training routines. It will be great getting other's opinion about what I have been doing and what I need to change. We are also going to start doing mountain biking, even have a clinic, and weekly swimming rendezvous. I'm in a good place right now. Have a beautiful week!!

What motivates you?

That is what a girlfriend asked me when we were comparing notes and looking at our online logs. She asked "Is it to beat any of the ladies you run with?" The answer to that is no, since we are all training partners I don't think it would be good for the group to be out to beat each other. Motivate each other to be faster is always a good thing, but I can't say I specifically go out to beat anyone in the group. The group is all within a couple minutes difference, which is why we are compatible training partners. Too many variables are at play to determine who is faster, so that never enters my mind.

What does motivate me is being able to run with Harsha. Harsha has been running rather consistently for the last five months and now he runs with all the fast groups. I am signed up to do the Triple Crown Series again this year and I want to beat my 2005 times. Right now, I would say I can easily do that, even with the course change for race #2. Where the real motivation comes in is Harsha will be running the first two races with me. Now I don't want him to get bored with me and run off ahead by himself. I know I can't challenge him, however I think I can make it a good work out for him.

So as I train, I think "how would Harsha run this right now?" All those pointers he gives me flow through my mind and I try to work on my form. Perhaps it would do me well to be more competitive, but I am content trudging along at the speed that works for me. I don't want to turn into one of those mean competitive people, so I'll remain with the mindset that I want to run with my husband and do the best I can do.

Almost afraid to say it....

I think I am 100% better? Goodness, I don't know if I am jinxing myself by saying that! Illnesses in our household have been ongoing for the last month and a half. After lots of pain and grouchiness, I think my shingles are gone. I have big patches of discolored skin, with a few lingering scabs. Nothing too nasty though. The last couple days I have seen a huge difference in my energy level, which is always a good sign.

Yesterday, we had a group of nine (including me) show up for the run. We had a great time and challenged ourselves with a very big hill. All this training for the Ascent is showing. I had lots of energy on the hills (a little mentally tired though) and felt like I could really speed it up come race day. I like that feeling! Then today, I decided to do some intervals. I was going to do a couple 1 mile intervals, however the little guy woke up and I had to cut it short. So I did .25, .5, 1, .5, .5, .25 @ a 7:19 pace. I was pretty tired, but I could have forced myself to do that second 1 mile repeat. Kind of glad he woke when he did though! I'll get a good stretch in tonight.

So for the rest of the week, this is what we have planned - Tues Spinning, Wed Barr Trail, Thur Ultimate Conditioning, Fri Garden Tempo run, Sat rest and Sun long run in Garden (trails). It is looking like a very good week. I'll keep my fingers crossed for good health, just as a precautionary measure!

Inspiration!

I'm still struggling with the shingles, but I thought I would check in. Wednesday morning, we did the Incline as planned. Even with feeling so fatigued, we cut a good minute off previous times.

As we were trudging along, I saw three people in their mid sixties that are a total inspiration for me. One lady was on her way down the Incline, which means she had to have started at 5 am. She was amazingly strong and feminine! Then we saw a gentlemen running up the trail right after the W's. He was sweating and smiling, moving right along. A little further down, we saw another lady who was speed walking up the W's. It is hard to do any of those, so these three people are my inspiration. I can only hope that Harsha and I will be up for running and hiking when we are in our sixties. Definitely motivation to take care of my body!

Today was my Ultimate Conditioning class. Pam kicked our butts as usual. We worked all the muscles that we normally don't, so tomorrow I will be feeling pain in strange places. After the class, I ran on the treadmill for 2.75 miles (26 minutes). Planned on doing 3 miles, but I had to get the kids out of child watch. I have been trying to run 2-3 miles after my classes, whether it is a spin class or strength class. It is amazing how much harder it is to run after the classes than being fresh. I think it is good training for my first triathlon though!

Tomorrow will be my Garden tempo run, Saturday an easy run or rest and Sunday our long run. I'm looking forward to them all!

Will it ever end?

I think it must! The last month and a half has been so stressful. Last week was the first week that I exercised very regularly and felt halfway decent. I was fatigued, however I have a perfect explanation for that. I have shingles. Yes, shingles! The Dr said it was a good thing I caught it so early, but that is only because I knew what it was as soon as the blisters started. My stress level hasn't been this high in a very long time. The one saving grace is all our amazing friends that have been trying to help us through all this. It is truly a vicious circle. Poor Harsha has been even more stressed knowing that I am so stressed that I developed shingles. The main trigger for shingles is stress, so we need to figure out how to fix all our problems real soon.

Even with all the stress and the shingles, I am committed to staying with my exercise regime. Saturday I went for a short run, however I couldn't relax and it felt like too much work. Sunday was a different story. I was still slightly sore from my UC class on Thursday (yes, she worked us extra hard since everyone thought we were getting a blizzard). We did a 14 mile run, which I haven't done since 2/4/07. I was very pleased. We kept a 9:00mm pace (2:06:41) and felt strong. My legs were fatigued at the end, but I wasn't dead. That run confirmed that I will have to do more long, 13+ mile, runs in order to make my desired time for the slacker half marathon. If I am fatigued at the end of a 14 mile run at a 9:00mm pace, then I'm not convinced I can do 13.1 miles around an 8:00 mm pace. I have lots of work ahead of me!

So this week will be the usual. I'll do some intervals this evening or tomorrow am, Incline on Wed with the ladies, UC class on Thur, GOG tempo run on Fri, rest on Sat and it is looking like we'll do a trail run on Sunday. My usual full week, which helps with the stress. Harsha will also be taking over and ensuring I get my Yoga time in the evening. The last month hasn't gone real well with the yoga, so I need it. Yoga is so rejuvenating for me, I must do it! Good thing I have such a great husband that will make sure I get the necessary time.

I'm healthy!

Well, overall, I'm healthy. Still fighting a lingering cough, but I have all the results from my physical now. The dermatologist did a complete mole check and found nothing that looks unusual. We are planning on removing a couple unsightly moles from my back, but that's only because I don't like how they look. And my blood work is all normal:

Total Cholesterol: 161 (<200)
Triglycerides: 41 (>30 and <150)
HDL (good): 67 (>40)
LDL (bad): 85 (<130)

So all that exercise and healthy eating has paid off! As for my exercise, it is coming along. Last week, I did do a few good workouts. My body was generally achy all week, but I still made myself get out there. The cough and achiness is hanging around though. Yesterday, I did a short 4.5 mile run at a 9:00 mm pace and felt fine. However, when I woke this morning, my body hurt. Could have been from the run or from the massage. I asked my MT to do a deeper tissue massage, which isn't what she normally does for me.

And today, I did an interval run. I did a total of 6 miles, with 1x.25 @7:24mm, 5x.50 @7:19 mm, and 1x.25 @7:03. The recoveries were at a 10:00 mm pace, which isn't too bad... at least, I wasn't gasping for air. Before I got this chest cold, this interval workout would have been a breeze. I know I just need time to get healthy again, but it sure is frustrating. I did use my inhaler today and it didn't make too much of a difference. I'm sure after this gunk is gone, it will make a huge difference. Right now though, I am still congested and work to breath.

I'm back, kind of

The chest cold lingered around a little longer than expected. I think I am back though. There is some raspy breathing and really disgusting stuff being coughed up, but I'm working it out. My last run was last Wed when I did the spin class and then 3 miles of running, just so I could get a feel for the bike/run part of a triathlon. I need to do that more often, because it truly kicked my butt.

Yesterday I decided to do the Ultimate Conditioning class, so I could get out of the house and get a little exercise. It felt good, however the breathing part of all those weights wore me down. I'm glad I did it, even with sore legs today! Since I do feel significantly better, I decided to run on the treadmill this afternoon. Harsha is home, sick from work. He caught the same gunk as the kids and I, just four days later. So I started right off with the pace I wanted to keep, which was a comfortable 9:05 pace. I find that I enjoy this pace for my easy runs. I kept running and felt fine. I had to get a few drinks of water to hold off the coughing, but it was uneventful otherwise. The last 3/4 mile I went one notch faster, so I was 8:54 (I think) and it didn't make a difference. So with all that said, I think I am back. As long as I can hold off the coughing for the next week or so, I can run. Hopefully the cough will be gone real soon and not take the 2-3 weeks the Dr suggested it might.

One more thing, I really need a pedicure. As I ran, my toe nails, or claws right now, began cutting off the adjacent toes. Ow! I need to get that done real soon, like later today!