Three Things Thursday

1. L hit 50 miles hiking this week! He actually has 54 miles logged; three do not count because they are “in the neighborhood” and not on trails. His official number is 51 miles since crossing over into the Wolf Den! I am SO proud of him!!! Our goal was to hit 50 miles before the Cub Scout Blue & Gold Banquet, which is this Saturday. That is when he officially becomes a Wolf!
2. N was home with a very quick tummy bug on Tuesday. I have been feeling nauseous ever since. I don’t "do" puke and I’m so thankful it was quick! He now feels like a million bucks and wants to get sick again so he can lay on the couch all day and watch TV!
3. Just got back from a 5 miler. Why do the first three miles kick my butt? Why is running three miles almost as hard as running double digits some days? My lungs did not want to cooperate and my legs were a tad heavy. I blame N's sickness and my feeling “off” the past few days. I am glad I got out there and hit the pavement, I feel like I have conquered the world! I love that running is hard, but so rewarding!

Happy running y’all!

11 Miles and the Dreaded Wall

Yesterday I ran 11 miles. My goal was to run it in two hours or less. Last time I ran 11 miles (training for the ATL half) I ran it in two hours, ten minutes and twenty-nine seconds. I wanted to beat that time. I fueled properly all day Wednesday. I carbo loaded, I drank water like it was going out of style. Last time I met 11 miles, it chewed me up and spit me out. I realized after the run it was due to improper fueling the day before and during. I wasn’t going to let that happen again. I knew what I was getting into and I was going to CRUSH 11 miles.

I missed my time goal by two minutes and nine seconds. CRAP! I was solid the first nine and half miles. It was EPIC. I was strong, I hit the high at nine miles (why does that take so long??!!??). I was grooving. Then I hit 10 miles. I am not sure what it is about double digits, but every time I get there, the wheels come off. EVERY.SINGLE.TIME. I had a game plan for this run. I fueled with gels at miles three and six and had half of a honey stinger (I ran out of gels at home) at mile nine. I had two flasks of nuun. Looking back, I realize that I need MORE gels in the house. I like the idea of taking them every three miles, which is what works for my body. I need to pick up a Nathan Speed 4 to replace my Speed 2. I need to bring two flasks of nuun AND two flasks of water. Regardless of my hydration, I will still battle the notorious ten miles.

I asked a good friend of mine on FB about this double-digit issue. He’s an ultra runner, my ultimate running hero; I aspire to run like him some day. I view him as the Yoda of running. His reply was:

…that's why they call it training. 10 is your "wall" now. Think back to when you started running, when did the wheels fall off, much sooner?

Keep up the hard work and you'll learn about what your body needs to run efficiently through any wall, sans wheels. Soon enough you'll be busting out an easy ten for a recovery run. :-)

Endurance and muscle memory are earned through miles and miles. No short cuts.

The WALL. That’s what it’s all about. Facing the wall. Beating the wall. Tearing down the wall. (humming Pink Floyd). He’s right. When I started running, 10k was hard for me. Now that wall has moved to 10 miles. Practice makes perfect. I look forward to 10 miles being my “easy” recovery run, someday. That is what I love about running. Each and every day I face challenges that I can conquer, goals that can be met and crushed and then setting new goals. Running makes me determined, focused, and strong. I love it!

Today is a day of rest. Hubby has the day off and we’ll go for a short 2-3 mile hike with the boys after school. Not an extreme hike like last time, just an easy family hike. I hope you all have a fabulous weekend, get out and move!

Happy running y’all!!!

Case of the Mondays

One of my hubby's favorite movies is Office Space. It was one of the first movies I watched with him when we started dating. The older I get, the more that movie applies to my daily life. Especially (now) my running life. Mondays are my hardest run. Why? I only run for 30 minutes. It is not even my longest run of the week. But Mondays kick my butt. I have a Case of the (running) Mondays. I'd love to kick this run to the curb, but I never do. It kicks me every.single.time.

Today's run was especially hard after our "Adventure" hike yesterday. We didn't set out thinking it would be an adventure hike, but it turned out that way. It was the hardest 5 miles I have ever hiked as a family. I am so proud of my boys, especially five year old N. N is our whiny child. He whines over every.single.thing. He only mentioned twice in these five miles that his legs were tired. My legs were tired by then! The hike is rated as "moderate to strenuous". They weren't kidding. We traversed log "bridges" (aka two logs thrown over a wide stream to act as a bridge), narrow paths with zero shoulder dangerously close to the lake, and my favorite, the ropes so thoughtfully tied on two trees to help you rappel down the cliff! Adventure hiking! Not what I was expecting, but oh so much fun. The boys slept like babies last night!

Sore quads from adventure hiking lead to a Dory Run today or even a BBTN run. Here's to hoping the legs recover before Thursday's 11 miler!

Liquid Awesome

Yesterday I ran 5k in just under 31 minutes. It was hard. (That's What She Said!). I blame the humidity, yes we have humidity in the ATL in January! I blame the headwind. I blame the hills. I blame my legs; they just aren't cooperating with me this week! I debated all day: to run or not to run. I thought of what SUAR would say, "Shut Up and Run!" so I did. I am so glad that I did. Even though yesterday's run kicked my butt, I am so glad that I did. It may hurt during the workout, but the pain feels so good after! Here's me, post 5k sweating like a man! (That's what the humidity does to me!)

This weekend I will go for a quick 30 minute run on Saturday, followed with a 2 mile hike with the boys (gotta get L up to 50 miles as soon as possible!). Then Sunday, hubby has the day off so we will go for a family hike. We're hoping to get 4 miles in if N can handle it! Of course, I have to bribe the boys with "coffee" to get them out there, but I want to set a fabulous example for them--get out and move!

Happy weekend and Happy Running y'all!

Five Things Friday

1. Ran 9.5 miles today in 1:44:05. That is nine minutes faster than the last time I ran it. I was a little down that I wasn’t faster. But it was 48 degrees out (feels like temp was a bit cooler), overcast and trying to rain. The cold air combined with diesel exhaust, cigarette smoke from passing drivers and the hills wreaked havoc on my asthma. I am not sure if I’ll ever have an 8 minute pace for 13.1 miles, I’d like to, but I am glad that I can get out there and move today!
2. Hubby has been absolutely amazing this week. He works LONG, crazy hours and averages around a 70-80 hour work week. The other day when I was at kindergarten learning centers and he was home he unloaded the dishwasher for me. I told him thank you and that it had made my day (truth)!! Then I woke up this morning and read the following on my FB wall:

   “I read your whole blog just now. I had no idea you had written so much. Your writing has improved just in the couple of months you've been blogging. It's personal, genuine, and often quite funny. Nice job and keep up the good work. I love you!”

   That comment just made my week!!!
3. N broke down at school on Wednesday while I was there (for the aforementioned learning centers). He broke down when the teacher asked each person in his group what made them special. Once again, I felt like the worst mom in the world since my kindergartener doesn’t think he’s special. I am making extra effort to constantly tell him how special and important he is to me.
4. TMB over at Racing With Babes is doing a series of posts each Friday to help develop confidence and self-worth. (Something that N and I need to learn to live by). She is titling this series: Live Like the Honey Badger. Today is the first post, I highly recommend you hop over there and read it.
5. Tomorrow is the Pinewood Derby for L. He is beyond ecstatic to race his car. I am excited that J has the WHOLE day off and we get to spend it as a family! Hopefully the weather will cooperate so we can take a family hike in the morning and then race cars in the afternoon. L is just twenty miles short of his 50 miles hiking for cub scouts. Go L!!!!