Wordless Wednesday

Grace and peace,

Training schedule shake up

I have been following my marathon training schedule to the T. To the point where I stress about how I'm going to work the rest of my life around it.  This weekend I had a sort of epiphany.........
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      My training schedule called for an 18 miler on Sunday. This worked for me. I like to run my long runs on Sunday mornings..EARLY, so I have time to get the family up and ready for church by 9am and a Sunday bonus....I can always work in a nap Sunday afternoon.
This weekend hubby was working so I had to come up with a back up plan. It's not easy to find a babysitter to come to your house at 3am, so I decided to do my long run on Saturday evening after hubby got off work. Only one problem, Saturday morning I ran 6.5 miles. It was the graduation 5k for the Fleet Feet No Boundaries program and I helped pace several of the participants in.  That combined with a typical Saturday filled with activities for 3 kids left me feeling exhausted by 4pm when hubs got home.  I knew running 18 miles was not going to happen....so I scrapped it.  Completely.  I didn't reschedule it, I didn't redo my entire schedule for the week like I would normally do.  I just crossed it off and I felt fine about it. Actually, I put my pjs on and couched out with the kiddos and surprisingly, the world did not stop spinning.
I know that the long runs are very crucial to running a good marathon and I plan on continuing with the rest of my training schedule.  I have to say though, it felt good to have a little rest.  My legs and feet feel good and I'm excited to run tomorrow. 
I want to run the best marathon that I can run. I think that stressing over my training schedule is not only being counter productive but is sapping the fun out of the whole experience.
So, I'm done stressing over my training schedule.
Things happen...life happens...it's good to be flexible....

If you're new to my blog, welcome! If you're not new, thanks for stopping by!  I appreciate your comments and feedback!

Grace and peace,

 

Plyometrics...Building your Running Speed and Power

The other day I got the bright idea to call up my old personal trainer, Dave Jacob.  I had heard he has developed some sort of Plyometrics system that he's uses with some NBA and NFL athletes and I thought maybe he could give me a few free tips over the phone.  I've been reading a lot lately not just about plyometrics but about different cross training exercises to add to my marathon training.  Plyometrics just seems to keep making it to the top of the list.  Dave is a slave driver awesome trainer!  He is the one who kicked my butt got me ready for my first fitness competition here:

I trust that whatever Dave tells me to do will work.  If Dave told me to eat dirt for a week and stand on my head because it would make me a better athlete....I would do it.
By the end of the phone call I had set up weekly training sessions with him.....still not sure how that happened.
Monday was my first session and it was NOT at all what I expected.  I had been used to his past sessions....a LOT of lunges, some squats, weight training, some cardio.....but this was different.
This was a lot of hopping. That's pretty much it. Hopping.  I felt like a kangaroo. I joked with him that this was like playing hopscotch in grade school...15mins into the session I was eating humble pie and very aware that I have very little power, balance, or agility.  20 minutes into the session I was almost spent!  How is it that I can run 18 miles without stopping but I can't hop for 20 mins!!??!  Needless to say, he pushed me through the next 20 mins.
Today I'm sore from my core to my toes. Thank God I only had an easy 3 miler on the schedule today!

So, what are Plyometrics?

According to Wikipedia : Plyometrics is a type of exercise training designed to produce fast, powerful movements, and improve the functions of the nervous system, generally for the purpose of improving performance in sports. Plyometric movements, in which a muscle is loaded and then contracted in rapid sequence, use the strength, elasticity and innervation of muscle and surrounding tissues to jump higher, run faster, throw farther, or hit harder, depending on the desired training goal. Plyometrics is used to increase the speed or force of muscular contractions, providing explosiveness for a variety of sport-specific activities.

Check out this article on Plyometrics and Distance Running by Iain Hunter, PhD from Brigham Young University HERE.

If you haven't added Plyometrics to your training schedule maybe you should think about it.  And while your thinking about it check out Dave Jacobs website HERE.

So, what do you do on your cross training days?

If you're new to my blog, welcome! If you're not new, thanks for stopping by!  I appreciate your comments and feedback!

Grace and peace,

Things are gettin' hairy!

Happy Thursday!! 
I want to thank everyone who offered advice and shared their expertise with me yesterday! I appreciate your feedback!!
I don't have much to share today and I'm a little scrapped for time, so here is a picture for your viewing pleasure.

LP has a stache just like momma....LOL!!

 

This photo cracks me up and reminds me of Ned Flanders:)

I'll see you all next week! 
I have a fantastic fall weekend ahead of me that includes a pumpkin carving party, pumpkin patches, hay rides, hill repeats, and a nice looooong run in cool, crisp weather!

What's on your agenda for the weekend?

If you're new to my blog, welcome! If you're not new, thanks for stopping by!  I appreciate your comments and feedback!

Grace and peace,

 

What's that mean??

"You can never be sure. That's what makes the marathon both fearsome and fascinating. The deeper you go into the unknown, the more uncertain you become. But then you finish. And you wonder later, 'How did I do that?' This question compels you to keep making the journey from the usual to the magical."
-Joe Henderson 

60 days until I run my very first marathon...

     I haven't had any problems completing my scheduled runs, but I'm having doubts every time I lace up my shoes...that's why I love that quote...right now I feel like I'm caught in the "usual" but I have hope that my marathon journey will turn into the "magical". 

'How did I do that?' seems to be a question I'm asking myself a lot lately.  As my long runs grow longer and my "easy" runs grow a little more difficult, I seem to be struggling with my ability as a runner.

    Sunday, I completed my first ever 16 mile run. I know that's small potatoes compared to all you super marathoners, but for me it was huge! I was absolutely proud of myself for completing it and being able to cross off another marathon training run.

Distance:16.1 Mi / Time:

2:32:47/ Pace:

9:30

 I was surprised by my pace which was faster than I anticipated but felt pretty comfortable the whole time.  Here is where I am uncertain.  My goal for the marathon is or has been 4:30 which would be an average of a 10:18 pace.  Everything that I have read says to run long training runs 30-60 seconds slower than my marathon pace...so do I need to slow down? or do I need to maybe move my goal time up?

I feel a little irrational discussing it with friends especially if they aren't runners(though, I'm training to run 26.2 miles for fun...not exactly rational.)  ;)

Another thing I am uncertain about is the so-called "easy" runs.  What does that mean? I have 3 easy runs a week on my training schedule anywhere from 4-8 miles.  What does "easy" mean?  If I run it too slow I feel like I'm just getting in junk miles...

I still have about 8 weeks to experiment with my training...at least this is what it feels like, an experiment.  I'm pretty sure that Joe Henderson had it right when it comes to the marathon....'You can never be sure.'

If you're new to my blog, welcome! If you're not new, thanks for stopping by!  I appreciate your comments and feedback!

Grace and peace,

 

A new PR....and why I'm not that excited about it...

Some of the Trinity running crew

    Saturday I ran the Rebuilding Together 5k  It was a small local race put on by a friend of mine.  Which meant that I knew over half of the people who were running...no pressure.;)

My goal time: 23:30 for a new PR.  I was pretty confident it would happen.  I had put in the training including the dreaded speed work and it was a flat, fast course.  I was familiar with the course and have run part of it several times on training runs.  So I knew what to expect as far as the course was concerned. The weather was set to be cool, crisp, and sunny.  Perfect for running.
Saturday morning I woke up with a little chest congestion...I NEVER get sick.  I thought about taking something, but my body doesn't really "do" medication very well.  Plus, I figured it would clear up once I got up and moving.
I ran the race okay.  I never really felt like I was in the groove.  I could not get my breathing under control and by mile 2 my lungs were on fire!  I slowed my pace for about a 1/2 mile and then picked it back up. I figured I was going to feel crappy either way so I might as well put it all in!
I finished with a new PR of 24:10.  First in AG and 14th over all out of 114.  Not bad.  A year ago I would have been turning flips from excitement, but I know what I'm capable of now.
     Hubby said I shouldn't have even run with chest congestion.  I have no idea..I have never had chest congestion since I've been a runner so I'll have to look into it. 
Sunday I had a 12 miler on my training plan.  Woke up to run at 5am feeling worse.  I'm thankful I serve a God who heals.~1 Peter 2:24"... by His wounds you have been healed."  I took a few minutes before I got out of bed to pray and thank God.
As I was putting my running shoes on and wishing I was still in bed, I had to tell myself.."I'm a runner, this is what we do."
Needless to say, it was a loooooong 12 miles I finished in 1:59 and was ready to crash.  I rested pretty well the rest of the day.  We have church in the morning and the evening, so I got a nice long nap in between services.

Today is I have an easy 5 miles on the training schedule.  Still have a little chest congestion but it actually feels a lot better today. The weather has finally cooled off enough for me to resume my lunch runs, which means, I can sleep an extra 2hrs in the morning!!

Hope you get a chance to get out and enjoy the beautiful Fall weather!!

What is on your exercise agenda today?

Grace and peace,