A Good Solid Month of Running

I feel kind of pathetic being proud of this, but: I just finished up a month of consistent running. I ran about 85 miles this past month, which seems like a lot when I think back at the effort that went into running those miles, but not a lot when I consider that in January I ran 160+ miles. Of course, then I was hard core into marathon training (yeah, that didn't pan out) and now I'm just trying to get my funny pregnant body to move, but still, it's so hard not to compare What Is with What Would Be if I were not pregnant.

Still, I did get a couple of tempo runs in, one at 7:40ish pace and one at 7:20ish. Soon I know my expanding belly is not going to allow me to run like that anymore, and I love the feel of running quickly, so I'm enjoying these last fleeting (ha!) fast runs while I can.

Saturday I ran a 8 1/4 mile run. It ended up being longer than I had planned, but it made me feel good to know I can still do longish runs when I want to. I know that too will change and just getting out for 30 minutes will be challenging. Well, more challenging. 30 minutes is still pretty darn hard these days.

Getting used to it again

I realized that during yesterday's and today's runs, my body has actually felt pretty good. The last few weeks' runs have been marked with some aching and stretching pains in my abdomen that aren't very pleasant. They were worse when I would go up or down hills (which I can't really avoid around here). Now, though, my body seems to have adapted once more to the stresses of running and I am actually able to enjoy running again, even though I'm pregnant/slower/heavier/etc. I also get fewer side aches, although I still have to go pee often in the middle of runs (luckily I run near public restrooms), which is annoying.

I had a good tempo run today. I didn't mean to make it one, but I felt pretty sprightly as I set out and realized, when I'd made it to the .6 mile marker a good 40 seconds earlier than I had the day before, that I could maybe get in a faster run today, should my body feel up to it. I had to change my intended course up a bit in the face of some construction and had to do some creative running around impediments on the sidewalk (like the bleechers they're setting up for this weekend's car fest) but even then I was able to run a little over 4 miles at 7:20ish pace.

Oh, and I passed a guy. I don't know why I feel like I have to pass guys or feel validated when I DO pass them when I basically ignore the women. It's odd. I must have a complex. Anyway, yeah. He ate my pregnant lady dust.

The Week is Over...

...the chips are in, and I ran a 20 mile week! Whoo hoo!

Running 5 times this week actually felt pretty good. I loved getting outside in the sunshine (a whole week of sunshine in Denmark! Must be some sort of record!) and getting some fresh air. Sometimes it helped with the morning sickness.

I'm going to play it by ear next week but I figure that I'll hold myself at about 20 miles per week for the next couple weeks and then maybe start increasing again! I am getting some strength back and feeling less tired so running is less daunting than it has been the last few months.

Also, the sun is so enticing! Ah, spring!

More than 10 miles this week!

Pathetic, I know.

BUT -

This afternoon I did a 3.5 mile run at 7:40 pace. Not bad for a pregnant lady. Oh, and I passed lots of guys. With my big tummy. And it felt awesome.

Funny how I never fail to forget that afternoon runs feel so much nicer than morning ones because I've actually got some readily available carbs. I guess I figure that the huge looming coefficient of PREGNANCY MAKES YOU SLOW kind of crowds out my ability to remember that these days.

Maybe I'm back to running?

I remember when...

...I used to run. A lot.

Then I got pregnant. And sick at the same time. So then I didn't run much. I hope to get back into things sometime...I'll keep you posted when I do!!

15 miles. No, wait. 15.2.

It always feels good to reach a milestone. I reached one last night when I ran the longest distance I"ve ever run. Ever. 15.2 miles. It was supposed to be a 14 mile run, but I was feeling good and I guess I got a bit carried away. Actually, it was due to (mis)estimating my mileage by time as I was running. I estimated a mile too much. Well, 1.2 miles too much. This run was, of course, part of my marathon training plan.

Speaking of, the training is going well. I am now in week 3 of my training regimen and I'm starting to get used to the patern of things. Eventually I think I'll move my long runs off of Mondays and to Saturdays, as running 18 or 20 miles in one weekday evening could be a bit much. As it was, my 15.2 miler yesterday took me over 2 hours. That's a long time to be running!

I like the training program so far, and so far, my body is holding up well to it. I've run about 3 40 mile weeks so far and will do a rest week (30 miles) next week. 30 miles may still sort of sound like a lot until you realize that there is no run over 8 miles (usually no run is less than 9 these days) and that there is no long run to speak of. There also won't be any speedwork or tempo runs. I'm sure it will feel like a vacation for the legs.

I took my first ice bath yesterday. It was cold. I did like it, though. It made my legs feel really good. Running for a long time is always hard on the legs so it feels good to numb them with the cold. And I guess the cold is good for them anyway. We don't have a proper tub, so I took it in Christian's little toddler tub, crouching down on my knees to immerse my lower legs. My feet don't like extreme cold, I've discovered.

I did my first speedwork session of the training program last week. Loved it! I always like running fast, and doing 1600 intervals made the 8 miles go by super fast. From a mental perspective, that is.

The marathon is approaching! Now that it is February, it seems like it is getting closer and closer!

Training for a Marathon!

Just a quick post to say that I'm officially training for the Geneva Marathon! Super excited! I've done one week of "official" training which totalled out at about 37 miles. I'm doing a Runner's World program that the SmartCoach spit out. I realize that because it's an automated program, it may not be optimal in many ways, so I'm willing to tailor it as needed. However, it does seem fairly reasonable, having me run only 4 days a week (I generally have been running 5) and topping out at just under 50 miles a week. According to this plan, I should be able to run a sub 3:30 marathon come race day. Optimistic? Almost certainly. But something to shoot for, I guess.

Week one of said program has been good. I did two 10 milers, an 8 miler and a 9 miler. All but 5 miles of the 8 miler were at a slowish pace (9 min/mi) which has made me feel my left knee a bit. The "tempo" run I did on Friday had me running 5 miles at 7:52 pace. I've discovered I'm pretty good at estimating how fast I'm running, because without the Garmin, I ran almost exactly that. It felt faster than what I've been doing (as I've been doing quite a few "easy" runs recently) but not really all that fast. I have "speedwork" coming up this week and I hope I really get to stretch my legs out a bit.

Did I mention I'm EXCITED!? It's been a lifelong dream to run a marathon. And it appears that this is my year!

Goals for 2011

As promised, here is my post about what I hope to accomplish this year in running.

As one of my selected personal themes for this coming year is COMPLETION, there are a few things I hope to complete, including:

1. Run my first marathon! I don't know exactly when this will happen, but there are some plans in the works that might make this dream a reality. I have always wanted to do this, and after running very consistently for almost a whole year now, I think this is my year.

2. Improve my speed. I'm not very fast over the short haul, so I'd like to train myself for a little bit of speed.

3. Officially break my 5K PR. This is tied to #2, I guess, Speed and endurance.

4. Keep running all year. No peetering out!!