A really good week!

My next "big" race is a Half Marathon on September 8th. I'm just starting to ramp up my mileage in preparation. During this time of some shorter runs, I have been focusing on other areas of my fitness. One thing that is going really well is my ongoing effort to eat clean. Other than my protein bars that I have a couple times per week and my ice cream splurges, I have been doing really well! Weekends are still bad. I did enjoy a few beers and some Swedish meatballs during our Ikea run this weekend but I'm pretty proud of myself!

Another new resolution that I started this week - the hottest week of the year, mind you - is to walk one mile everyday at lunch.i read a recent article in Runner's World magazine called "Sitting is the new Smoking" and it scared the crap out of me. I work in a typical office at a desk in a cube all day. I have known that sitting is bad but I always kind of felt exempt since a run several times per week. I also, recently purchased, an Up by Jawbone to help me know when I've been sitting too long and to count my steps. I was surprised how many days that I don't even come close to 10,000 steps.

There is a 1/4 mile walking path around a pond in the office park where I work. It's one building away and, even walking slow so as not to get too sweaty, I can get a mile in in around 25 minutes max. As the weather cooks, I'm sure it will me much faster. That still leaves plenty of time to eat. I'm proud to report that I did my mile everyday this week! I'm looking forward to cooler weather this week and making it two weeks in a row!

Do you have a desk job? How do you keep active during the day?

North Canton 4th of July Run

I am not very excited about these results. I'm not sure what was keeping me from a faster pace. I suspect it was the memory of last year's 100 degree race day and the closest I ever came to vomiting during a run. Other than that, I have no excuse. I felt good and even sprinted at the end. That almost never happens to me in a race. I've usually spent it all before I come close to the finish!

I will have a chance at redemption in a few weeks. The HOF 5 mile race is on the 28th I'll be ready!

On another note, I got an email today reminding me that the inaugural Cleveland Rock and Roll Half Marathon is just 13 weeks away! I am scheduled for the Canton Half Marathon on September 8th but it has been a fiasco since it was announced. I have my doubts as to if it will even take place.

This week is back to relative normal. I hope I get a little higher mileage in during this week. I hope your workout and life plans come together for you this week as well!

Jackson Glow Run

Friday night was our annual, local Glow Run 5k. I ran tis race lady year just a week after my first Half Marathon. I had a hard time with it because I had been doing so many long runs that I really didn't know how to pace for a 5k. I did MUCH better this year!

This isn't officially a PR but I'm tempted to count it because the race where I got my PR did not measure 3.1 miles. It was short and my pace was faster during this race!

This week is going to be tough to fit in some workouts. We have the odd holiday in the middle of the week which includes a 5 mile race. I'd like to get in a good run or steps workout before Thursday. To complicate things, I work the "late shift" this week which means I don't get off work till 6pm.

Here's my tentative plan for the week:

Monday: fast 2 mile run

Tuesday:  AM-cross/strength training, PM-steps or 5ish mile run

Wednesday:  fast 2 mile run or cross/strength training (dependent upon Tuesday night's workout)

Thursday:  5 mile race

Friday:  cross/strength training

Saturday:  ugh-who knows! I'm afraid nothing since we are hosting a big picnic! Hopefully, I can have everything together the night before and I can get up early enough to get in a couple miles.

How do you work in training during busy weeks?

I Suck...

... At blogging! 

I never seem to have anything prolific to share!

While there hasn't been anything earth shattering, my friend, Amanda, and I ran a Color Run last week. It was so fun!

It was an hour's drive but we went up the Thursday before to pick up our packet and make a stop at the nearest Trader Joes to us. That bought us a little extra time on Saturday morning. We didn't have to leave until about 5:45. That is LATE compared to getting up at 2am for the Disney Princess Half!

Oddly enough, when I stopped to get gas at 5:30am, the only other person at the gas station also had on a Color Run shirt! I 'm embarrassed that I was too delirious to make conversation. 

Amanda is on vacation this week so I am on my own for runs. I'm hoping to get in a mid-week 5 to 6 miler and I'd also like to get down to the monument for some steps.  I need some extra workouts since I had a HORRIBLE food day today:  stuffed French toast for breakfast and I just had a mint Oreo blizzard for an after dinner treat. I promise to get back on track (literally) this week!

I hope you have a wonderful week and keep on YOUR track!

Tornadoes and PR's

What a week! My daughter lives on the south side of Oklahoma City just on the border of Moore. The massive tornado of May 20th scared all of us!

Since she was texting me while it was happening, I knew she was ok. In fact, I really didn't know how bad it was until later in the day since I was at work and hadn't seen the news!

After all that excitement, my friend, Amanda and I ran the Medina Half Marathon on Saturday. It was a preview run for the 2014 inaugural Half Marathon and it was FREE! Who could pass THAT up? The course was flat and scenic. The temperature was in the 40's with bright sunshine. The perfect conditions for a new PR! The race wasn't chip timed but as far as I'm concerned, my time is official!

I hope I don't have quite as much excitement this week but just in case, I started off my day today with a good 8 mile run. My legs aren't too happy about it right now but after all the food I ate yesterday, I hope it helps my waistline! The rest of the week's plan looks like this:

Tuesday - cross train-most likely abs since my legs are not happy

Wednesday - am-some kind of cross training, pm-a harder workout-run, hill work or monument steps

Thursday - some kind of cross training

Friday - short 2 mile run

What is your plan for the week? How will you work off the calories from this weekend's cookouts?

It's Been A While!

I made it through the next batch of weeks. I ran the Cincinnati Flying Pig half marathon a few weeks ago. It has been my most fun run so far and I cannot WAIT to do it again next year! I even managed another PR even if it was by less than a minute. My new best half marathon time is 2:27:20 and this was a challenging course so I am thrilled!

I got a couple of really good (but shorter) runs in while I was in Tampa. This weekend, a local town gave free registration to their "trial run" for a projected half marathon for next year. It looks like they want runners to come run the course and provide feedback. It's free and they are giving away prizes. Okay! I'm signed up! Why not add another half marathon for the year?!

Most of the runs I am signed up for during the rest of the summer are 5k's and 5 milers. It will be a great way to keep in shape for the two half marathons that I will be running this Fall. 

Have a wonderful week and I'll let you know how the Medina half marathon turns out!

Ahhhh and a heavy sigh

I successfully made it through the last couple of weeks. By successfully, I mean I'm still breathing and just a little bit easier.

I recovered from pneumonia, married off my daughter, completed the Spring Conference for my job and ran my third Half Marathon with a new PR by 9 minutes! It's been a whirlwind. Now I get to "slow down" for two weeks before I travel to Cincinnati to run another Half Marathon and a week later, travel to Tampa for some work and play.

Needless to say, I have been squeezing in workouts whenever I can get them. I hope to be back to a regular schedule soon but I felt really good running the Half yesterday and I hope I can get enough workouts in during the next couple weeks to make a good showing at The Flying Pig!

Here's the tentative workout plan for this week:
Monday: 2 mile run
Tuesday: cross train abs and/or butt
Wednesday: cross train am, 5 mile run pm
Thursday: cross train
Friday: 2 mile run
Saturday: 6ish mile run

I hope everyone has a wonderful and productive week!