When to throw it out the window

So for this upcoming race, I've decided to throw my training plan out the window, kind of. I originally wanted to run a couple races before Robie to help give me my grand number of 14 races. I will not be running the two races before Robie. Robie Creek is a beast and I want to make sure I have fresh legs. I got injured the last time I raced extreme hills and I want to make sure that doesn't happen again.

For Christmas I got The Runners World Big Book of Marathon and Half Marathon Training. I have almost read all of it and it was really helpful in learning and understanding the fundamentals of running. This is where I picked my training plan to start with, and they have some really good ones in here.

Like I said before, I am switching out speed for hills, but I am also going to play with the mileage. My body hasn't really been eased into running high mileage per week. I've decided that I will keep my shorter runs between 3 and 4 miles. My weekly mileage for this first race will range from 14 miles (last weeks mileage), and the highest will be in a couple weeks with 23 miles. I am working on/doing research on what I should be doing between my races, as June and July are looking pretty busy.

I love following training plans, but I end up getting a little obsessive and negative when I miss a work out. This does nothing for the training process, and quite frankly it makes me not want to race. I will be setting up mini goals each week which will have my workouts I need to complete. There will be no days or dates tied to the workouts. That way I've still planned workouts but still have wiggle room for when life happens. Here's what this week looks like:

Know what else I throw out the window?! Matching socks! I hate that part of the laundry, so I got into this nasty habit of throwing them in bags so I can sort them later. Sunday I caved - they were overflowing, and I realized I needed to stop being a lazy housewife. I matched as many as I could, and downsized to a small bags one for me and one for MMR :)

I have some serious spanish homework and a Papa Murphys Pizza calling my name (thank goodness for college coupons and pennies in the couch cushions because I did not want to cook tonight). Adios!

Baked goods with your motivation monday

Happy Monday! I hope you have a great start to the week. I am really excited it's March, that means we are one more month closer to summer, and it's officially spring in 18 days. That means I can start to wear anything other than boots, right?! And maybe get a run in when it's not wintery conditions?!

Last night I baked some PB&J muffins. I had some bananas that were starting to turn so I decided to use them. These muffins smell and taste just like you are eating a PB&J sandwich. Good thing the recipe made so many, MMR and I are already fighting over them.

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Weekly dose of motivation. These quotes I found really speak to the type of week I want to have:

 The theme of this week. My long run was so hard yesterday it really reminded me that I need to be 100% dedicated or I will be doing double the work.

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School and work has been keeping me pretty busy lately. Every time I finish something, I think of another something to do. Running and working out is my time for me.

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It's so easy to live in the past. This week I'm going to try and remember that each day is new, and to have a grateful heart. 

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This is something I have started reminding myself when my  workouts get tough. The hardest battle is your mind. When I am running and my legs start to get uncomfortable I just keep reminding myself of my goals and its a little easier to push through.

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What are some of your Monday routines?

Coffee/breakfast/me time, work, school, gym, nighttime festivities - AKA hang out with MMR and work on homework.

What was the highlight of your weekend?

Napping on Saturday - I very rarely take naps. It gave me the motivation to work out.

What is your goal for the week?

Get all the laundry done, I have about 6 loads or so left. I hate when I let it pile up. Complete a full weeks worth of work outs. Three runs, yoga, and cross training.

TBT 5k Edition

It's been a really long time since I've thrown it back. This Thrusday is all about the 5k's I've run. There are a few races where I don't have any pictures - or can't find any - like the one where I fought the entire time to not have a major bathroom accident - that Turkey Trot was super fun!

My very first race ever. Beat Coach Pete down in Boise - I definitely made it challenging. I hadn't really run much before this race, and I just went pedal to the metal in the beginning and just about died when I realized I had only gone 1 mile. I ended in 30ish minutes and did beat Pete. Except I missed out on the tee-shirt that "proves" I beat Pete - so what do they do - ask me if I want a shirt that says, "I'LL BEAT PETE NEXT YEAR". Yeah no thanks. Oh and thanks Mom for being my personal aid station and Dad for being my photographer.

Another 5k I did - The Race 2 the Summit 2012. I did the 5k and got first in my age group! What?! I had to ask if I heard that right too. I finished in 40ish minutes but I think the course ended up being close to 4 miles so thats not to bad!

Race for the Cure this last May - we got to walk with my itty bitty nephew!!! I love these girls so much! I had such a blast having girl time. Speaking of girl time, I think I hear Boise calling my name! ; )

Here's another fun one I did - I don't know what it is about 5ks that feel so hard. Maybe its because I feel like I need to go fast to keep up with the crowds, I'm more of a slow and steady for lots and lots of miles type o girl.

I'm off to run those hills! Wish me luck that hill repeats don't kill me its been quite a few months since I chose this form of torture.

Um Hello?! Are you there

I'm back!!!!!!!!! Did you miss me?! I know you did ; ) Life has been pretty busy this last month and it has no plans on slowing down. I had to re-prioritize some things and I had to put spending time on the internet on the back burner. To be honest - I've also been trying to spend less time hogging the computer and more time living in the moment.

I have some good news to share...............I got a bib to run Race to Robie Creek! I really really wanted to run that race last year but ended up not getting a bib. It's first come first serve and then there is a lottery you can enter for a second chance. It's the toughest half marathon in the northwest. I'm actually kind of scared of what I got myself into. Here's the elevation map. Enough said.

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Even better news......I have a running partner for the race - MMR!!! I finally have one of my many wishes coming true. He's probably going to be way faster than me but still - he's running a race with me and thats all that matters. Bucket list CHECK.

This is going to be the first race of the year which means I have some shuffling around later in the season, but I'm okay with that. Another race I'm super excited about is this one:

I get extra motivated when I have 'for sure' races lined up. I know I have big goals this year wanting to run 14 halfs and I've come to realize that it's not just my body that will need to adjust. It's expensive to run 14 races, especially if some of them are out of town, and last minute sign ups. So I had to pick the two most important races I for sure want to run. And these two are it.

I'm really excited to be going to Seattle in June. My mom and I are going to plan a pretty sweet girls weekend! This is my first huge race series and this is my first race out of Idaho. 

I must get back to my Spanish homework. Homework = good grades = passed classes = graduation = kick ass job. Goodnight.

It's all about being random

So this one is going to be all over the place. I had quite the productive day today. I made some money, gained some knowledge and pumped those endorphins. On my 4 miler today I thought about how AWESOME the month of February is going to be and it starts in just 3 days.

The Super Bowl is Sunday in case you have been under that rock. Growing up I use to BEG my parents to let me stay up through half-time. One thing I love about living on the West Coast, the game is on so much earlier! Then after the Superbowl its the OLYMPICS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't know if you know this, but I am OBSESSED with the Olympics.  For the summer game I brought my laptop to work so I could stream the events. GO TEAM USA!!

I had 4 miles in the training plan today and I really wanted to run outside, but mother nature had different plans. It started snowing sometime during class and it felt like the tempuratures dropped 10 degrees. What I'm actually trying to say is that I am a wuss and moved my run to the treadmill. It wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be, and as always it was worth it. I wore my favorite crops ever today. I wish I had gotten them in every color especially because some of the went on sale.

It kinda looks like I got punched in the face but I didn't I was just really warm and walking out of the gym.

Yesterday I forgot to post a progress shot from my bathroom. Here are the before pictures, and then after of the one wall. I bought both canvases from Home Goods a long time ago. I have the frames hung on the other wall but I need to run to pick up the pictures I ordered.  Considering they've been ready since Sunday afternoon I will need to pick those up tomorrow!

Now I'm off to do the dishes and get some sleep, I have another long busy day tomorrow - Unit then!! 

Today started the pace. Literally.

Today is finally here, and over for the most part. In just 10 short weeks I have my first race of the season. I am really excited and kind of nervous. I love running, working out and feeling good, but there's just a little extra motivation when it comes to actually having a training plan. Since the most I have off between races is three weeks, I will be sticking with the same plan, just modifying it between races. I got it from my Runner's World book I got for Christmas!

This week has 4 running days, 2 cross training days and one rest day. My long run is Sunday and depending how my body feels I may be swapping an easy run for some cross training or rest. I have told myself I need to be flexible as the training gets heavier; I will really need to listen to my body.

Today I created my own spin session. I took from different websites and my general knowledge from going to classes, set it to my own music and went for it. It was so hard, like really hard. I had sweat in my eyeballs by the third track. My legs were so tired when I got home I sat down, and literally almost fell over trying to stand up.

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It was so nice to stay home this past weekend. On Saturday I went into crazy cleaning mode and re-organized our bedroom closet and cleaned the kitchen. I would've taken some really embarrassing before photos, but I didn't remember until I had everything together. We are renters until we start bringing home some real bacon and closet space is limited. But now all my flats and work out sneaks have homes!

Sunday we went for a drive to get out of the fog and clouds. We saw the sun for about an hour and got a nice little mile hike in. We even got Dude to sit still for a few minutes to get his picture taken. He HATES getting his picture taken. It's so funny, he will bark and charge the camera. We can get him to sit where we want to take his picture, but then when he sees the phone or camera come up, he loses it!

I love spending time at home, but our weekends in Boise our so much fun too. Here's a look back at our weekend away in Boise:

Triple moon on our midnight drive.

Wine tasting at Koenig Vineyards

Visiting with my Grandparents. It was so much fun catching up and hanging out/

Every scale should look like this. Out shopping with my MIL.

Baked potatoe and chili bar and my MIL's. It was so so good!

How to get up and going again.

Last week was a little rough getting back into running. I'm not sure why, maybe because I started with the treadmill, or the fact that I had some unrealistic expectation. You have to remember that once you take a huge break from any kind of fitness you will start pretty close to zero depending on how long you take off. It's been about 3 months since I have done any kind of "serious running" and my fitness levels are definitely showing. I have tried to keep up by doing some higher intensity work outs but nothing can really compare. At least according to my body. I just have to keep remembering:

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I did 3 miles on the treadmill Tuesday last week and it was miserable. I turned my music up but the gym was so busy and it felt so hot and stuffy in there nothing seemed to help make the miles easier. MMR tells me its all in my head which I agree. I need to come up with a mantra or something to keep my head in the game. But....on the positive side I got to wear running shorts, I kinda missed them! Oh and I'm digging the fact that it's almost the end of January and I still have a little bit of a runners tan despite the fact that I am completely pasty.

Running outside is so much easier. I love it especially after a stressful day at work. Its nice to just have the wind blowing in your face/ponytail. Thursday I was able to make some time and ended up running during sunset. I've decided I am a night time exerciser. I love running at night and reflecting on what I've accomplished during the day. Okay my cheese fest is over.

I brought my running gear to Boise but unfortunately did not go for a run. I brought all cold gear but it was not warm enough. In the mornings the fog was so thick it made everything extra frozen, I think most mornings it was low 20's. Which is way to cold in my book. I didn't bring shorts - rookie mistake - I would've died if I had tried to run indoors with long sleeves and tights.

This week I have 3 runs planned and my goal for this week is to run with a better attitude. I want to be able to surpass the wall we all hit. Or at least have a few mantra's under my belt so I can stay sane :) - this one I really like:

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I have a project I want to get completed this week/weekend in one of the bathrooms. It's been a while since I've done some home projects so I'm pretty excited about this one. Our bathroom right now is pretty standard for a rental, stark white walls, basic vanity etc. Here's what my ideas are, and of course I will have the final product for you next week!

Hope everyone is having a great Hump Day!!!

Thursday Running Tips - Warm-Up Running Drills

Over the last couple of weeks I've been doing some running research. Nerdy I know but I have a huge goal I really really want to accomplish and I want to make sure I can be successful.

This week I'm bringing you some warm-up drills I do. I had started implementing these drills into my workouts right before I got injured. It's really important to warm-up before doing any kind of workout. Even after my warm-up I still walk for 5-10 minutes before I start running.

Warm-ups help prep your body for the demands of your work out and help keep you injury free. When I would do my warm-ups I noticed that I felt stronger during my workouts. A proper warm-up should increase heart rate, your breathing rate, and blood flow. Be sure you don't over exert yourself you don't want to be tired for the work out.

Here's a look at what I do before I run: Please note...I am no professional model ;) and MMR so graciously volunteered his photography skills. Enjoy!

Warrior Lunge

Start in standing position.

Lunge forward ending in a variation of Warrior 1

Repeat each leg 2 sets 6 reps

Side Lunge

Start in standing position

Lunge out to each side with stance slightly wider than your hips

Lean over to touch your toes

Make sure your knee stays over your toes

Repeat each side 2 sets 6 reps

Windmills

Start with feet way wider than your hips and your arms

Reach down to touch your toes with the opposite arm

Windmill back up and reach down to the other side

2 sets 6 reps

Leg Swing Through

Stand in a running man start position. Like me :)

Then swing your leg through to reach the ground

2 sets each side 6 reps

Ending with a standing stretch.

Hold each side 1 minute

***Please know that these stretches are what work for me and that they may not work for everyone. Feel free to change any part of the work outs to suit your personal needs!

How to Set Goals With a Dose of Motivation

Oh Monday - the brightside of Monday's are that it is the beginning of a whole new week.

This week is going to be another busy one, we both have a couple tests, and we are getting out of town this weekend.

Since time change on Sunday it now gets dark around 4:30. That is so early!! I honestly think this is the only complaint I have of living here. It makes the days seem so short, but then so long when it's only 8:00 and it looks like the middle of the night.

This morning I felt very discouraged. I had a not so good run last night, and this morning my heel just really really ached.  I'm frustrated because I know I need to take it easier this week, but I just don't really want to. I just felt defeated. I am terrible at running on the treadmill. I woke up this morning to almost 3 inches of snow (dramatic I know). I just started thinking ahead of how long winter is going to be and how hard and unfun running will become for me if I have to spend all 32 weeks of winter running on a treadmill. Enter in my goals for the week:

I picked these goals because always having a positive outlook on life/week/situation makes it easier. My running goal is staying on track because I think taking 4 out of my 5 runs this week on the pavement/gravel that I am use to should really help, including my long run. No more long runs on the treadmill. I also need need need to get all my laundry done. It is my least favorite chore and has been backed up for weeks now.

That is the only time this week I am going to get down on myself. Negative thinking can really derail you. On the positive side I am thankful for the seasons. This one is kinda cheesy so grab some chips, or a tissue. For me the seasons bring change, refreshment, and excitement. I am the type of person that loves subtle changes in short increments. Winter brings the Holiday's (my first and second favorite), new activities - I love skiing - the end of the year. Each season has something to look forward too! Seeing as winter made it's appearance I'm looking forward to what the season has to offer.

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What are your goals for the week?!