Suzanne is Cranky But Has a New Pair of Running Shoes!

I will admit I'm cranky. Why? Well probably because I don't get enough sleep (what mom does?) but it's primarily because I didn't get my 4-mile run in today. Yes, it's come to that. I used to be the girl that didn't really worry about my missed workouts but now it makes me cranky and irritated! Not sure if that's a good or bad thing? Thoughts?

Good news though..I did buy a new pair of shoes. And I found pink ones or actually ones that have pink in it...aren't they pretty? Bad news is that I haven't run in them yet. Today was supposed to be my first day, so until tomorrow....



Training went well last week! Successfully got all my miles in and I'm really starting to enjoy speed training. It's just nice having a different kind of running to do and I'm really liking it. Our long run last week was 8 miles....my running buddies Judy and Morgan make the time go by!

Oh and I finally had a great treadmill run - I was definitely overdue for that. It was last Wednesday night when I needed to get my run in. Started running on the treadmill and it was one of those rare times when it was just easy and felt like I could run forever! I would have kept running but it was a school night and had to get the girls home and ready to go to bed. But I was so happy to finally have a good treadmill run after my last few have not gone so well.

This week's training schedule:
Monday: 4 miles (done!)
Tuesday: cross-train (done!)
Wednesday: 4 miles (need to make-up)
Thursday: speed-training: hills (4-6 miles)
Friday: rest (have personal training session scheduled)
Saturday: 9 miles
Sunday: cross-train (maybe try hot yoga?)

Overall, I'm in the best running shape I've ever been in. I feel strong and starting to feel like a "real runner" if that makes any sense?

Music - I have two new songs that I'm really enjoying running to:
(1) F*&K You by Cee Lo Green (there's also a clean version Forget You available)
(2) Animal by Neon Trees (this song rocks!)

That's it for this week. The Davis Stampede half marathon is a week from this Sunday!

Happy Running,
Suzanne

Suzanne: Week 2 of Half Marathon Training

Officially completed week 1 of Fleet Feet's half marathon training!

Speed training on Thursday evening was a first for me. We did a 15 minute warm-up and then did fartleks - a 2 minute fast run, followed by a 2 minute slow run. It actually felt good to run hard knowing I was going to be able to rest a little after it but 2 minutes is no joke and a long time. We ended the workout with a 15 minute run back to the store. Felt good after the workout but was sore that night. Surprisingly woke up fine on Friday with no soreness. Very curious to see how speed training workouts will impact my running - we'll see.

Enjoyed my rest day on Friday and felt like I earned it. Saturday's long run was 7 miles. Again we started out in the dark but this time it was also foggy - fantastic. Got through the run fine but definitely need to start eating prior to my long runs as I kinda pushed myself to the limit on this one and was starving afterwards and at lunch. Felt fine last week when I didn't eat anything for 6 miles, but was a little drained after 7 miles this week. Was just too lazy to get up earlier to eat something - it's a bad habit of mine.

Here's the training program for this week:
Monday: 3.5 miles
Tuesday: cross-train
Wednesday: 3.5 miles
Thursday: speed workout
Friday: rest
Saturday: 8 miles
Sunday: cross-train

This week I also need to buy some new running shoes - I'm thinking something pink or purple.

Countdown - 3 weeks until the Davis Stampede half marathon and 8 weeks until the Shamrock half!

Happy Running,
Suzanne

Suzanne: Week 1 of Half Marathon Training Program

On Saturday, I officially started my half marathon training program with my local Fleet Feet. At 6:30 am I started on my long run with the training group. It was cold - cold for a California girl that is - and dark but I successfully completed a 6 mile run. Felt good, had a great run with Judy and Morgan and then had the rest of my day in front of me. Definitely makes a difference to run with people as I always run faster. It was a good start and we'll see how the rest of the training goes and what difference it makes.

Here's the training program for this week:
Monday: 3 miles (completed)
Tuesday: cross-train (completed)
Wednesday: 3 miles
Thursday: speed workout
Friday: rest
Saturday: 7 miles
Sunday: cross-train

Every Thursday will be the speed workout in the evenings. Curious to see how these go but evidently we're doing 4-6 miles of speed work - that should be interesting.

Also, I think my days of running on the treadmill are numbered. I used to LOVE running on the treadmill and actually preferred it to running outside. However, since I've been training I now prefer running outside. My last few treadmill runs have been HORRIBLE! They seemed to last forever and I just wanted to stop. Just dreadful!

This training is preparing me for the Shamrock half marathon on March 13th with our longest run being 13 miles - more than I've trained for in the past. However, I'm also scheduled to do a half marathon on February 6th - my training will be up to 10 miles prior to that race (what I normally trained up to for my past 2 half marathons).

That's it for now!

Happy Running,
Suzanne

Suzanne: I Skipped My 5k!

Yes, I skipped my 5k this past Sunday. Was gung ho about running in the rain until I woke up early on Sunday to check out the weather and it was raining heavily, windy and cold. I should clarify that it was cold for this California girl - not for anyone who lives in the Northeast or Midwest. Ha! So I decided to NOT go and went back to bed. You'll be happy to know that I did run a 5k but in the comfort of the gym. In checking out the results of the race and it did seem that there was a fair number of runners that made the same decision as me.

So far this week my training is going to plan. Ran 4 miles on Monday on the treadmill at work, rested today, and plan to run 5 miles on Wednesday, 3 miles on Thursday, cross train on Friday and run 6 miles on Saturday morning with the Fleet Feet half marathon training group. Did I mention the training group runs at 6:30 am in the morning? Oh my! Well at least I'll get it done first thing in the morning and check it off my list.

Happy new year everyone! I hope everyone is off to a great start and making progress on their resolutions. On that note, I figured I'd share my 2011 running/exercise goals.

- Run 4 half marathons (doubling my 2010 total)
- Improve half marathon PR by 15 minutes
- Join half marathon training group
- Try Bikram Yoga
- Continue to strengthen core through personal training workouts and/or classes
- Consistently workout 5 days a week
- Lose 5 lbs (stretch goal: lose 10 lbs)
- Eat better by reducing portion size and limiting consumption of ice cream, pizza, and bread

It's always good to have goals to shoot for so I'm excited to work towards achieving mine.

Happy Running,
Suzanne