Because I’m a rocket scientist, I put together my whole post in the wrong place. I’m pretty annoyed at myself. But since I just finished working out by doing the Tough Mudder workout twice, back to back, I’m going to link to it. Because I’m not going to fight what will probably be a pain in the ass to transfer the post between blogger and wordpress.
So here is my awesome post.
Well this past week has been tough. There was some major emotional/family drama going on in my house – that which I’m not delving into here, but know that it altered the adults-only plans for the weekend and had me in tears on many occasions. So with that said, here’s my adherence to my goals for the challenge.
1. Running – 3-4 days a week – I ran Thursday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday – Sunday I ran my 9 miles outside. I almost flaked on it too. I was tired from the time change and I didn’t want to. And it was super windy. And halfway through the toes in my left foot cramped up when I stopped at a red light. Cramped up to the point I had to take my shoe off and rub them. It was very bizarre because when I was running they were find; it was only when I stopped. So I’m upping my intake of bananas and electrolytes. I also cut my 6-miler short by a mile yesterday because I mentally did not have it in me to continue. But I’m okay with that.
2. Nike Training Club - Okay. I did better this week. I got one ab workout done and then I cursed myself for not doing it more because my abs? They hurt.
3. 100 Pushup Challenge - Yep. Done and done. Though on Monday my last set was of 20. I made it to 15 and had peck failure. So I had to stop for 10 seconds and then do the last 5. Yeowch.
4. Increase Water Intake – Well. Mmm. I can’t honestly say I got in consistent water this week. Although I should have drank more; crying is not only exhausting it’s dehydrating. I’m going to try and get back on the horse with my water this week.
So overall I hit my goals. I “substituted” NTC for less water. It all evens out, right? And I have some fun news about the Tough Mudder event I talked about last week, go read over here all about it!!
I think, Bari did pretty good on her goals too – though we both had a few moments of needing the other to be a drill sergeant. But that’s why we’re a team. To kick each other’s ass when needed.
One week down, five to go. So how have you been doing with your goals for this challenge. Me? Pretty good. Let’s review.
1. Running 3-4 days a week – I ran Thursday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday.
2. Nike Training Club – nope. Not once. Thought about doing the abs workout after my run yesterday and I ran out of time. Could I have squeezed it in somewhere? Yes. Did I? No.
3. 100 pushup challenge – Success. I will be doing my pushups on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Those aren’t typically run days for me and it’s easy to squeeze in the few minutes in between questions from the kids.
4. Increase water intake – Yes. I’ve definitely been drinking more. On non-run days I’m taking in about 40 ounces of water. On run days it’s 60-70. Not high volume but enough to keep me peeing.
All things considering I’m doing fine. I also have been swimming on Friday mornings when my oldest is taking private lessons. I’m only in the water for 30 minutes, but that’s long enough for me. I have an aversion to my face being in the water. I never learned to breath properly and the whole exhaling in water, turn head and then inhale has always left me choking on water. But you know what? Last Friday I did 100 m of freestyle with my face in the water. There is no doubt that I drank some water, but I did it. First time ever. I’m going to try it again this Friday. But don’t call me a swimmer yet. I’d still rather be backstroking it. 
I know I didn’t make any commitments to avoiding foods or making better food choices, but I have to come clean that I ate a box of Thin Mints. By myself. In less than 24 hours. They were good. And now they are all gone and I can’t do it anymore.
This next week should be a good one, but I am traveling this weekend to see Beki and her Knight. T and I are going barrel tasting with them this weekend. And I’m really excited! Not sure what the food situation will be like, but the plan is to get my 9-mile long run in Sunday morning before headed back to reality. Is it weird that 9 miles outside sorta freaks me out? It shouldn’t.
Oh! I almost forgot. T emailed me yesterday morning and asked if I’d be interested in doing the Tough Mudder this September. I’ve looked at the tentative course map and of all the things that frightens me is the last part. Sprinting through a field of live wires and getting shocked? After running and climbing and traversing and swimming 10 miles? That? Does not sound like fun. But I think we are going to do it with some friends. So, in addition to hopefully running in three half marathons, I might be adding this 2 weeks after my second 13.1 and 3 weeks before my third 13.1. I may have lost my marbles.
Here I am 5 days post my broken acceptedness. Coach Joe has assured me that what is going on with my foot is not a stress fracture – unless I’m the first runner in time to have a fracture in the spot where it hurts. So I’ve continued with the RICE. I also went and saw my chiropractor on Friday. He adjusted my ankle and we lasered my foot. By Saturday morning I had no pain. I freakin’ love my chiropractor. And even though the foot was feeling better, I still refrained from doing anything other than some strength and yoga. Aside from the Tworkout last night. I now feel the muscles in my foot are tired but no pain. I’m going to hop on the treadmill this morning and give it a nice, gentle whirl and see how it goes. I’m feeling my motivation oozing out and I don’t want to lose it. Hell, in a few weeks I have a 16-mile run I’m supposed to do. I can’t have oozing motivation and accomplish *that*.
So my goals for the week. I’ve done okay on the kid-time front. It’s still hard to get it all in because I almost have to beg to do something with them one-on-one. T and I had a nice little date night at home on Saturday night. A movie after the kids went to bed with some popcorn and a glass of STV. And the reading? Well, let’s just say it hasn’t been going as planned. There’s been reading but probably only about an hour in the last week. I’m going to try harder this week.
Wow! I have officially started week 8 of my training! I can hardly believe it. This last week was a little rough. I’ve been recovering from being sick a week ago which left me with some sort of crazy rash all over my torso. It doesn’t hurt. It doesn’t itch, but man it looks horrible.
So, first, I want to say THANK YOU to all the wonderful people who have continued to donate. I need to update my little sticky note at the top of the blog, because there are so many new people, and I appreciate their willingness to donate in my name. AND there are ton more who have donated to the whole Shrinking Jeans team and you? are awesome also!
I stuck to my schedule this week which was a 4 mile run on Monday, 5 miles on Wednesday, and a 3-mile tempo run on Friday. I was originally planning on doing my long run of 6 miles on Saturday before I headed off for scrapbooking, but T wanted to head out to the hills with a local running club for a run. And since his schedule fluctuates and he doesn’t get out running as regularly as I do, I felt it was worth the sacrifice.
So Sunday morning I headed outside for my 6-mile run. I was contemplating throwing an extra 0.5 mile in there just because, but I decided that after about the first mile I was just going to do my 6. Why, you ask? Well after crossing a street with a light and I hopped back up on the curb and took a couple steps, my lack of gracefulness finally caught up to me and I tripped over an uneven spot in the sidewalk. I’m happy to say that I only hit the side of my right knee and my hand as I caught myself. I never did stop though, I pushed off with my right hand and just kept going. I have a bruise now though.
This week brings an increase in my long runs. It jumps to 8 miles this weekend for a couple of weeks and that number won’t get below 8 until the week before our race in San Diego. I am so excited!! I also get to run my longest scheduled training run of 12 miles with 7 members of Team Shrinking Jeans in April. We are getting together at Christy’s place in Texas for a little R&R and ‘sisterhood’ bonding time (along with a handful of other sisters who are on Team Shrinking Jeans). And then I just signed up for a local half marathon the weekend after our little retreat – which is a month before the half marathon in San Diego. I’m doing it for two reasons. I want to see how I perform at 4500 ft. above sea level. If I can do at least as good as I did in San Francisco last fall, then there should be no reason I can’t reach my goal time in San Diego. And, I’m a glutton for punishment. T, unfortunately, will be out of town that weekend for drill, so he won’t get to run it too.
So that’s the last week and a little peek into the future.
A lifelong runner who has decided to kick it up a notch.
