Wife of an avid runner.

I did it!  I added my extra 1/4 mile to my run.  I still can't comprehend how I will be able to get to my goal of running 5 straight miles but I guess I just have to do it 1/4 of a mile at a time.  

Also did my pushups.  I can't believe I'm to week 4 already.  Max was 32...Ouch.  I like to always throw in an extra few but today I just couldn't...hope I can make it through this week.

Ran 2.5 miles and walked .5 mile.  My last 1/4 mile running I sped up to 5.5mph from my usual 5 mph.  Feels good to be improving and really good to be losing some weight.  I also have a lot more energy than I did before I started working out and I think my insomnia that I've had for the past year is finally starting to go away...I slept great last night!

Tried something a little different today.  After my warm-up I ran a mile at 5.5 instead of just 5mph.  Then I sped up to 6mph and ran maybe a 1/4 mile.  Then I walked for a minute or two until I felt better then ran again at 5.  For my last 1/4 mile I sped it back up to 6.  It was quite the work-out for me!

 Today I also have to do crunches and push-ups.  I usually do my crunches on Tue. but had forgotten to take my exhaustion test for week 3 so I did that yesterday and did 49!  So, today is week 4 day 2 of push-ups and week 3 day 1 of sit-ups.

Just walked today.

Made it another day.  I was thinking around 1.5 miles "Wow this is hard today"  and I really wanted to quit.  Instead I sped it up to 6mph for 1/8 mile then back down to 5mph and finished up the distance.  Every week about this time I wonder how I'll manage to add 1/4 mile to my run yet every Mon. I do manage to do it.

 Push-ups (max 40) and sit-ups (max 38) today. Abs and arms both felt like jello after just the 2nd set and I really wanted to quit, but I know I won't get stronger if I don't stick with it so I did all 5 sets on both.

I got to run outside today since Matt was home.  I waited for him to finish his outdoor run then I went.  He told me to go down to legacy parkway and run for 2 miles then turn around and run back so I did!  I can't believe it!  I ran the whole 4 mile...didn't walk AT ALL and my split was just over 11 min. miles (that's faster than I've been doing my 2.5 mile runs on the tm).  I think I like running outside...I feel great!

Today was the day to add another 1/4 mile to my run.  After Sat.'s run I knew that I could do the distance and that I should also work on speeding up my T.M. runs a bit.  So, today I did my usual 1/2 mile walk then I alternated speeds : 1/4 mile at 5mph, 1/4 mile at 6mph, 1/4 mile 5mph, etc. until I was done.  I really feel like I pushed myself but I love to see my improvement.  Also, I forgot to mention on Sat. that I got my 1st blister since I've started running.  Although I probably shouldn't be excited about it, it is a good reminder of my persistence and hard work.

Did the whole run at my good old slow speed of 5mph.  1/2 mile was warm-up and cool-down walk.  I was later than normal starting my run today because I just didn't want to do it.  Finally gave in and got it done.

Today I just decided to do one of the pre-programmed workouts on my treadmill.  I picked a 30 min workout with a max speed of 4 and a max incline of 10%.  I thought it would be a whole lot easier than it was.  I am not used to incline and boy did that work my legs.  I guess I probably really needed that because I mostly also run completely flat.  I hope to later today also do pilates for 20 minutes.  I also added an extra .5 mile to the programmed workout.

Ran the whole 2.75 miles with .5 mile walk.  Did my last 1/2 mile of the run at 1% incline.  My right knee is hurting some today but not too bad that I had to stop.

Same old, same old.  I'm looking forward to tomorrow and another run outside.

Ran today with my hubby and brother in Kaysville by my brother's house.  I'm so much slower than them, but they went slow for me.  After about the first 1/2 mile, with me running faster than I usually run anyhow, my brother said "so do you usually stop and stretch after your warm-up?"  Warm-up?!  Yeah, that made me feel really slow.  I did really enjoy being outside instead of on the treadmill though and  it was a beautiful day!  I don't know how I'll manage in the summer though because I got so hot and just hoped not to puke in someone's front yard.  Our split ended up being about 11:30.

Monday again...time to add 1/4 mile to my normal run.  Was able to finish whole 3 mile run at 5mph.  Tried to focus more on my form today running more on my toes than heel to toe.  Did a 1/2 mile walk.  I think my endurance is improving though it is still quite boring on the TM.

Did push-ups and sit-ups.

Walked to a restaurant with the kids for a lunch bunch and back.  Sounds weak I know, but I did push a stroller and it's a good up-hill all the way back.  It was a beautiful day and the kids loved getting out.  I let them stop at the video store on the way home and pick out a wii game to play when we got back.  

Happy St. Patrick's Day!   The kids woke up at 4 am this morning to check and see if they'd caught a Leprauchaun in their Leprauchaun trap they had made.  He got away but left them Lucky Charms and green milk.  Then I had to give them a bowl and send them back to bed. 

Walked 1/2 mile, ran 3.  Ran 1.5 at 5mph and 1.5 at 6mph.  I do feel like I'm getting stronger but still every day it's hard for me to finish my run.  There's no such thing as an easy 3 miles for me yet.

Ran the whole 3 miles at 5mph today with .5 mile walk. Had to stop just once to clean out my son's throw up bowl.

Once again, Ran 3miles at 5mph and walked .5 mile.  My stomach wasn't feeling great when I woke up this morning and my 1st thought was "how am I going to do my run?"  I started a little later than usual, but thankfully I made it without having to take any breaks.  Though my stomach is still tight, at least I got my run in!

I don't get to log a race report like the rest of my family since I was on kid duty.  It was a fun day though.  The kids ran the 200m and Matt ran the 10K.  Everyone did great.  Then we went out for lunch at Carl's Jr.  When we got home I changed into my running clothes and Matt dropped me off at the temple and I ran home.  There was one stretch of a pretty good uphill but the majority was downhill.  I also had a pretty strong headwind which wore me out faster but did a better job of keeping me cool than my treadmill fan.  Overall I did a split of  10:49.  For me that is really good!  I'm still trying to work up to being able to do a 5K with a split of 10:00 or under...I think I'm getting closer.  I guess especially if it was a flat course because that uphill about killed me.   First thing in the morning would probably also help because I slow down the later it gets.  It was a beautiful day and we all had a great time...I think I need a nap now though.

Man am I sore from my run on Sat.!  I can totally feel all the new muscles I worked from doing those hills.  It's tough to even make it up or down my stairs but I still had to do my run.  I successfully added my 1/4 mile making it .5 mile walk and 3.25 mile run.  The last .5 mile I ran at 5.5mph pace instead of the 5 because I was tired of running and just wanted to finish.  Hopefully my muscles will feel better tomorrow.

 I'm on my last week for the push-up challenge and hope I can do 100 girly push-ups at the end of this week.  I think then I might start over and try to do the manly ones...we'll see.  I'm only on week 5 of the sit-ups.

I haven't lost any weight this week which is a bit frustrating but maybe part of it is from all the new muscles weight I've gained.  I'll just keep trying to stay consistent with my workouts and eating good foods.

Woke up with a sore throat but I won't let that stop me this week.  I decided last night, with some encouragement from Matt to start training for my 1st 1/2 marathon.  I changed that from a long term goal to a short term goal and started today.  Actually yesterday's workout was almost exactly was I was supposed to do yesterday according Hal Higdon's novice training schedule that Matt pulled up for me last night so I'm on my way!  I'm planning on running the half in Farmington on July 11.

Today I did my usual .5 mile warm-up/cool-down walk and I ran 2 miles.  Yeah for me because that is shorter than what I was planning on running.  However, I needed to walk to the elementary school today to pick up a new math book for my oldest so I walked there with all the kids.  It added another 1.62 miles whick I am certainly going to log to make myself feel better...I sure love to see those miles add up every week.  I still can't believe how much I've improved in such a short time. 

My legs seemed extra tired today even though yesterday was a bit of an easier day.  I did walk extra yesterday with the kids but my legs didn't seem tired at all then.  I did my .5 mile warm-up/cool-down walking and ran 3 miles.  I did the 1st 1.5 miles at a slightly faster pace of 5.4mph and the rest at the typical 5mph.

Today I did push-ups and sit-ups also.  My arms feel like jello.  Max push-ups 55.  Max sit-ups 70.   I barely made it through on the push-ups.

According to Hal Higdon and my new half marathon training schedule, today was a rest day.  I still had to do 1/2 hour of some exercise for my own personal fitness goals so I did Widsor Pilates.  I think this was really good for me because it stretched my tightening leg muscles more.  I hadn't done Pilates for a while and it used to really kill my stomach muscles, but today I could tell that I've been getting my core stronger with my sit-up challenge because it wasn't near as hard as it was the last time I did it (a few months ago.)  I think I need to get a Yoga video or some other easier workouts to do on my "off" days.  

Today was a cross-training day.  I did my push-ups and sit-ups and then did 30 minutes of aerobics.  Some of it was jumping rope, most of it was dancing with the kids.  I think I need to find some more exercise videos since I can't go swimming or bike riding or anything like that with the kids at home and me with no car.  The kids did like dancing though and it got me winded.

Today was my long run in my 1st week of training for the half.  I went to legacy parkway again.  It was pretty windy but I decided to start out with a tailwind and come back with a headwind because I figured I'd be hotter on the way back and want the wind to cool me off.  I forced myself to walk .25 mile before starting to run.  Then I ran 2 miles out and turned around and ran 2 miles back then had my last .25 to walk again.  On the GPS I was just under 11 minute miles every time I looked.  For the last .25 mile or so I sped it up and pushed myself as fast as I could, I think about 9 minute miles.  My overall split for the 4 miles was 10:32!  I am definitely improving but now I want a nap.

 I think I might sign up for a 5K in Florida when we go there for our family vacation, May 9.  Matt says he would also love to run a race there.  That is just one week later than my training plan says I should run a 5K race and that would still put me a bit ahead of schedule for my half.  I haven't yet decided that it's worth it to pay to run, but I guess $20 is not a bad price to pay to keep my motivation up.

Did an easy 3 miles (ha ha I always wanted to say that!) today.  Just ran the whole thing at 5mph and walked .5 mile.  I did lose a couple of pound this last week though so yeah for me.

Ran 2 miles on treadmill, walked .5 miles.  I did the last 1/4 mile at 2% incline.  I'm really trying to get to where I can do hills.  I know 1/4 mile is pretty wimpy but I will work up to more.