Hot Stuff

Not to complain, but it was too hot for my run today.

Ok, so it was really only around 65 degrees, but I need a little more of a transition period to get used to warmer weather.

I had a tempo run on the plan and wasn't sure if I was going to be able to pick up any speed at all until a little over a mile in. It was weird to be running in shorts and a tank top again. If you don't count my amazingly slow first mile, I averaged an 8:47 pace. I'm always happy with any time that starts with an 8.

Buddy and I hung out in the yard for a bit after I got home. I was too hot to go inside.

I don't know why Buddy looks angry in this picture. He's been loving all the sunshine we have had lately.

My first half marathon of the year is coming up quickly! It's the Sleepy Hollow Half Marathon, which is a little over two weeks away. You can read my recap of the 2014 race HERE. It was my first half in NY and I basically trained on the treadmill. It was before I joined my weekend running group and before I gained any speed.

It is a fairly hilly half, so we'll see where I'm at come race day.

When/what is your next race?

Did anyone get into the NYC Marathon lottery today? I didn't apply this year, I have other possibilities for a fall marathon that I'm considering.

I'm a LEGEND Compression Ambassador!

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It was SO nice on Sunday! Buddy was pretty psyched. 

Tom has been working on finishing up the back porch roof, and I was put in charge of burning all the scrap wood.

I had an absolutely miserable run on Monday. I felt off (possibly getting sick?) but figured I would feel better after a mile or so. It was supposed to be a 5 mile run, and I cut it short at 3 miles.

Today's run started off in a similar fashion, but fortunately it picked up after a bit. I had repeats on the plan for today, so I ran 9x400m repeats with 400m recovery walk/jogs. Normally I would do a 200m recovery, but since there's a limited flat area in my neighborhood I like to start and end at the same place to avoid hills. A little extra recovery in between intervals never hurts either.

As an added bonus, I was in shorts and a tank top for most of my run (I did start with a jacket) - it was a nice change from wearing all the layers.

I wore my snazzy LEGEND Compression calf sleeves for my repeats. They're seriously the softest compression gear I've ever tried and I'm super excited to rep them at all my races this year as a LEGEND ambassador!

LEGEND not only carries performance socks, sleeves and recovery socks (which have a higher level of compression to speed recovery), they also have business/dress socks and stockings if you can't get away with wearing yoga pants all day ;)

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And this is what happens when Buddy goes into the unfinished addition and then walks on my yoga mat:

At least he looks a little sorry.

Marathon Training Week 3

These weeks are creeping by awfully quickly. I'm following a 16 week training plan (well, an 18 week one that I skipped the first two weeks of), which means my marathon is in 13 weeks already - what?!

I actually followed my training plan this week for a change.

Monday: Cross training. Yep, that's twice now I've managed to do Piyo. I always feel really good after I do the workout, I just have a really hard time actually doing it for some reason.

Tuesday: 3 miles. It was about 80 degrees and ridiculously humid. I felt like I was running through water, and I just couldn't make my legs move any faster. 3.11 miles at 9:15 pace.

Wednesday: 6 Miles. My TomTom has bluetooth, so I've gotten really bad about plugging it in. I just sync it with my phone to upload my runs. Somewhere around 4 miles, I looked down to see a sad dead battery symbol, so I had to estimate my time/pace based on what time I started my run. It was another humid day, so I was taking it slow and just getting my miles in. I ended up running 6.02 miles (I ran out and back and I turned around at 3.01) at around a 10:38 pace.

Thursday: 3 miles. We finally had some cooler weather, and I was feeling really good. I had a pretty good pace going, and really pushed the last mile. I ended up running 3.1 miles in 26:43 - an 8:36 pace. My last mile was a speedy 7:46!

Friday: Rest day. I spent some time hanging out at the laundromat and "helped" Tom with the driveway project.

I just started reading Marathon by Hal Higdon, and that helped pass the time at the laundromat. It's pretty inspiring so far and has a lot of fun quotes and stories from different runners.

Saturday: 6 miles. This weekend was supposed to be really hot, so I planned on getting up early(ish) to run - and I did! It was a little cooler running first thing in the morning (I started at 7:30am), though the temperature did go up about 10 degrees while I was running. 6.1 miles at 9:21 pace.

Sunday: 12 miles. The wake up early plan didn't go quite as smoothly today, though I still managed to get out the door by 8:30am. I wore my fuel belt (which I am not a fan of), and ran on some roads I haven't run on yet. It was way hillier than I thought it was going to be. It was also pretty hot as most of the roads weren't very shady.

I disturbed some people at the gas station that was my turn around point by bringing my sweaty self inside to use the restroom and buy water to refill my water bottles. I got some funny looks!

Most of the uphill was on the way home, so I was dragging, and I had to walk a couple small sections of hills, but I finished my 12 miles at a 10:16 pace. Not bad at all considering the weather and my poor course research.

After I got home and ate everything in sight, I spent some time playing with Buddy in the yard. He's still not very good at the "drop it" part of fetch, but he is getting a little better about bringing the ball back.

I was really excited to find these at the grocery store the other day.

We used to have them when I was a kid, and I haven't seen them in years (and I always look when I'm at the store). So when I saw them, I had to buy them, regardless of the fact that we don't have an oven right now.

It's ok, because we do have a waffle iron.

Not quite the same as when you bake them, but delicious nonetheless.

Have you used your waffle iron for things other than waffles?

We have done cinnamon rolls and we've made cornbread in the waffle iron too. :)

Good Reflexes

This is my Saturday:

I took Buddy out, and fed him while the coffee was brewing.

The second he was done eating, he ran back upstairs to go back to bed.

I watched the news, and ate an english muffin with peanut butter. And coffee. Always coffee.

Then I was off to meet up with the group for our usual Saturday morning run.

Today I went back out for a couple of extra miles after we were finished. Next weekend is the Rhinebeck Half - I'm not worried about it, but I'm not feeling particularly fast right now either.

Also: it was humid this morning. It's been a long time since I had to deal with the unpleasant feeling of running in humidity. I didn't miss it.

Buddy was the happiest dog on earth this afternoon and lounged on the deck in the sun.

He even shared his couch with me for a little bit.

You need good reflexes to sit next to Buddy without getting licked.

We got Unbroken from redbox, so that's the plan for tonight. We listened to the audiobook, but I'm excited to see how the movie turned out.

Have you seen Unbroken? Have you read the book?

Oiselle Roga Shorts and a Lazy Sunday

It was absolutely beautiful here on Sunday. Buddy and I hung out on the deck with some iced tea and my kindle for a while. It doesn't seem like too long ago that I was wearing my jacket to go running, now I'm relaxing on the deck in a sun dress!

Buddy is psyched for spring weather.

I actually had to make him go back inside to cool off at one point, he was just laying there, panting like crazy. He won't drink any water I bring outside for him, so he gets sent inside for his own good.

I had an easy 5 miles on the plan for the day, so I decided to test out my new shorts. The shorts are really lightweight and super comfortable, I really like them! That being said, there was Body Glide involved to prevent chafing. It's not the short's fault though, the problem seems to be my thighs.

It may have motivated me to do some strength training to tone some areas that constant running doesn't tone. Of course, I've made such declarations before and have yet to stick to any strength training program, so there's that.

Why is strength training so boring?

Tuesday Randomness

I have a bit of a random post for you today.

Monday and today I had a couple of easy 4 milers, which I did on the treadmill because I'm lazy. The irony of being a lazy distance runner is not lost on me. My next half is apparently in 18 days (I just bothered to check), so I'm trying to stick to my training plan even on my lazy days.

Buddy is now perfectly happy to go out on the back deck by himself. He goes where the sunshine goes - as long as we don't wander too far out of eyesight, he's good.

Tom has decided that he wants a barn when we finally move, so we went to a place in Connecticut that we refer to "the barn store."

Some of them are pretty neat looking.

It's officially, officially springtime - the landscapers came and mowed the lawn on Monday. I like the stripes.

Um, don't buy these. I ate them all really quickly. It's a problem I have.

And these are kind of weird. You can always depend on me to test out the new flavors of everything for you :)

Buddy is one spoiled pup. Tom moved his bed into the sunshine this afternoon. Buddy was in heaven.

And some pretty clouds to wrap up my randomness. I swear one of these days I'll have a normal post again.

Go With It

Friday morning I didn't have anywhere to be until noon, so I tackled the dishes that we (yet again) let pile up. Then I was struck by a super random urge to clean more things, so I decided to just go with it. These things don't happen often, so I try to take advantage when they do.

I cleaned the kitchen counter - I actually moved things and cleaned under them (I know, it's madness over here). Then I did some vacuuming and dusting and swept. From the amount of hair I swept up, you would think both buddy and I would be bald (for a short hair dog, Buddy sheds an impressive amount).

We had group nap time (the boys napped, I just relaxed with the pooch) in the afternoon. Buddy is the best lounging companion.

The Rivertown Runners (my weekend running buddies) had a brewery meet up Friday night, so Tom and I went and enjoyed some free beer. It's always funny to see people in non-running clothes. We don't always recognize each other!

This morning I was up bright and early to hit the trails. The weather was just about perfect, sunny and mid-50s. I did not feel like running when I woke up - my cold is really lingering and I had a headache - but about a mile or two in, I was so glad I went. It ended up being a really nice run!

We ran our usual 7 miles, my watch calling it 6.58 miles at a 9:10 pace.

Buddy hung out on the deck with me when I got home.

A nice run, coffee, and sunshine - an excellent start to the weekend!

Never-ending Colds

I've been laying low the last couple of days. I keep joking that there's just a line of different colds waiting in my body, and each time I start to get better from one, the next steps up to take its turn. The current variation is in my sinuses and chest. It's really fun.

Yesterday afternoon I had some speed work on the agenda, but instead I spent the afternoon on the couch with this guy:

 He loves when people don't feel well, that means he gets to cuddle on the couch.

This afternoon, I made my way to the basement to try to get a run in. I realized pretty quickly that speed work was still not an option, but I managed 4 miles without dissolving into an endless coughing fit, so I'm counting it as a win.

The weather has been much nicer lately, so Buddy and I have been spending some quality time hanging out on the back deck.

Tom and I started watching The Blacklist a few weeks ago. Have you seen it? We flew through the first season and are almost caught up to the newest episodes.

What are you watching lately?

A Bright, Sunshiny Day

It was SO nice out today!

I ate my lunch out on the back deck while Buddy sunbathed. I can't remember the last time it was warm enough to sit out there. We haven't even bothered to bring up the seat cushions from the basement yet.

Buddy was pretty happy to be out in the sunshine.

This afternoon I went for a run around the neighborhood. Usually if I actually drag myself outside for a run on my own, it's on the trails, but I didn't feel like driving anywhere. 3 easy miles at a 9:15 pace to start off training for my next half (next up: Rhinebeck Hudson Valley Full and Half Marathon in May).

It was hot out! Ok, so it was only in the low 60s, but I'm not used to it. It felt wrong to run in a tank top - I'm so used to jackets at this point.

Buddy joined me on the deck after my run - I was too hot to stay inside.

Remember a week ago when I was racing in 27 degree weather? This is much nicer.

Some circus art, a hot run, and a spoiled dog

I'm just going to erase nap time from my memory for the rest of the week. I have a kiddo that will not be quiet/calm/still at all and has been keeping pretty much everyone up lately. Her family recently moved, so her last day is Friday. I can make it to Friday.

Here are a couple of our circus crafts from the week.

I actually ran outside after work today. Tom was doing some home improvement stuff and the power to the treadmill was off, so I braved the heat. It wasn't as hot out as I thought it was going to be, which was nice.

3 easy miles around the neighborhood, ignoring the pinched nerve I woke up with this morning.

I was feeling pretty runner-y when I got home.

There are worse places to come home to.

Buddy has such a hard life. He hung out with me on the back deck while I cooled off after my run. The hardship.

We wanted something easy for dinner, so I made BLTs and we inhaled some of our favorite avocado salsa along with our sandwiches.

I'm hoping to get to bed early, my assistant is on vacation until the middle of next week, which basically means I have to work all. day. long.  I'm not super happy about the situation.