starting week 4.

Yesterday was a great day! The weather FINALLY warmed up enough for me to run outside. I was at Target on Saturday and they had some winter workout clothes on super sale...so I picked up a moisture wicking fleece top and a cute fleece zip up vest ($16 for both items!). I also plotted out a 5 mile route in my neighborhood. I drove it today after Logan's tumble class just to make sure it was 5 miles...it's actually 5.4 miles. Anyway- back to yesterday's run...it was great. And I was SO happy with my time- just over 54 minutes. I converted what would have been an 8K (4.97 miles) and multiplied that by my average pace time per mile (9:57) and it came to a sub 50:00 (my goal for the Shuffle)!!! I can't believe I kept up that pace for over 5 miles...at this rate, I'll have no problem finishing the Shuffle at my goal time.

It was a good thing I did a 5 miler yesterday, as we went for dinner with Matt's brothers and their wives to Cheesecake Factory. We had such a good time! Logan stayed behind and hung out with his big cousins. He LOVES spending time with his cousins. :)

As for week 4 of training, I'm repeating week 2 of the intermediate program. I repeated week 1 and I'm repeating week 2...so I should be in good form with a decent base from here on out. Today was a rough 3 miles on the treadmill. For some goofy reason, my Monday runs are always rough. Probably because I'm still trying to recover from my long runs on Sunday. Hal, I love you and hate you at the same time. ;)

nothing new.

Since the weather has been so cold this past week, all my runs have taken place on the treadmill. So not much new to report there. Yesterday I took advantage of a free workout (running and weights) at the park district and put Logan in the daycare center there for about an hour. He did pretty good- had one crying spurt, but that was all. I tested out some of the weight machines and did all arms. I enjoyed myself! And the facilities are pretty nice, so I may register for Pilates sometime very soon.

Today was speedwork. I was supposed to head to the local 400 meter track. Um, not happening in 10 degree temperatures. My lungs would implode I'm sure. So I tried to recreate the program on my treadmill and ended up with the following:

1 mile warmup at 5.3 (11:19 pace)
400 meters at 6.0 (10:00 pace)
400 meter recovery at 5.3 (11:19 pace)
400 meters at 6.1 (9:50 pace)
400 meter recovery at 5.3 (11:19 pace)
400 meters at 6.2 (9:40 pace)
400 meter recovery at 5.3 (11:19 pace)
400 meters at 6.3 (9:31 pace)
400 meter recovery at 5.4 (11:06 pace)
400 meters at 6.4 (9:22 pace)
400 meter recovery at 5.5 (10:54 pace)
400 meters at 6.5 (9:13 pace)
400 meter recovery at 5.5 (10:54 pace)
.75 mile cooldown at 5.5 (10:54 pace)

I was happy with this...by the end of the workout the 5.5 pace was pretty easy. Next time I'll have to challenge myself a bit more. Well...that's it in a nutshell. Off to spend the rest of my day with my family. :)

cutest thing ever.

Okay, so this is the 2nd cutest thing ever. I wrote a few days ago about Logan saying "Tickle, tickle", right? Well, ever since Logan was a teeny tiny baby, we always got him to laugh by smelling his feet and making funny faces and saying he had stinky feet...whether they were stinky or not. We do this mostly when we're dressing him, or changing his diaper.

So we're hanging out in the living room last night after dinner and Matt took Logan's shoes off. Then Logan grabs one of his shoes, puts it up to his face and smells the inside! :) Makes a funny face (he can't say stinky yet) and does it again, and again. It was WAY too cute. I tried to get a video of it, but I only got the tail end and not the cute part. He's so funny- he so hams it up just like his daddy!

I did my run today again. With this new program I'm running 5x/week. WOW- that's a lot of running! 3 miles on the treadmill again today- 16 miles total for this week so far, and it was snowing this morning, a little accumulation. I listened to Lindsay's No Comment song 3x. Makes me smile and makes me proud every time I hear it! ;)

my good deed for the day.

Today's run started off interesting! Wednesdays are my 30 minute tempo runs. I started out on the same route as last week. I got about a block away from my house and I hear this dog barking at me. I look...and it's just standing there, barking at me, no leash, no owner...nothing. So I keep running, and realize the pup is following me. I really didn't want to give up my momentum, but I didn't want the dog to get hurt or lost following me, so I stopped my watch and gingerly walked to the dog to check it's tags. The pup let me pick it up (it's name is Tobby) and carry it the 2 blocks to it's home. I have no idea if the dog was a boy or girl. So anyway, I dropped off the pup and resumed my run.

It was windy today, but the temps weren't too bad. The weather is going to get super cold this weekend, so it's looking like today was my last chance for an outside run. I picked up a new pair of running long pants at Target (in petite length, can you believe it?) and they worked very nicely. I tend to sweat a lot and I love moisture wicking pants because you can't see the sweat. :) I altered my route a little bit and ended up at 3.25 miles in 31:30- still under a 9:45 pace...I'm happy with that!!

Training this week is really going well. I'm getting to the point where I'm actually looking forward to my runs. Hoping that continues.

figured it out.

I was wondering why my pace during my tempo run last week was so much faster than my run on Sunday. Duh. The route on Sunday is SO hilly...so I slow down with the hills. The route for the tempo run is pretty flat so I'm faster. I really need to work on my speed with inclines. That will be a goal of mine.

Today's run- 3 miles on the treadmill with Teletubbies on in the background. What joy. Off to get ready for my day!

Oh! And TOTALLY off topic...I went shopping yesterday and scored 2 cashmere v-neck sweaters for my husband for dirt cheap. I love when that happens. :)

repeating week 1.

Since I have 11 weeks till race day and the training program is only 8 weeks, I decided that this week will be a repeat of week 1. Today was a BORING 3 mile run on the treadmill (but I listened to my new playlist so that was fun) followed by 15 minutes of strength training. Wow- do I dislike free weights. Ugh. I wouldn't ordinarily mind them too much, but my husband trains with much more weight than I do, and we have the weights where you add/remove the heavy discs...ugh. This is the main reason I don't do more with weights. I guess picking up and putting down Logan works to an extent...but if I want to strengthen my upper body, I'm going to start weight training 1 or 2 times a week. Ooooh...light bulb moment! I have a few Pilates DVDs and space in the basement to do them! Maybe with Friday's strengthening workout I'll pop one of those in. Great idea!

On the Logan-front- he did the CUTEST thing yesterday. We were visiting my husband's brother and his family...the boys spent the afternoon watching football and I had some girl talk with my sister-in-law. Anyway, my SIL started tickling Logan while saying "tickle, tickle" and Logan started mimicking her! He starts saying "tickle, tickle, tickle" and sticks out his tongue and makes this little noise...SO CUTE! Man...he is just blowing me away with the things he can do these days. I'm such a proud mom. :)

Also- I'm looking into planning a small getaway weekend with my sisters. I did some research and am possibly interested in running the Country Music 1/2 Marathon in Nashville on April 26. Nothing is set in stone yet, but if I can make this happen...how fun!! A weekend of running and partying...what better way to spend a spring weekend! Stay tuned...

training- week 1 complete.

1 week down...11 to go! I missed the Monday run, but will resume Monday runs tomorrow.

Week 1 was a success all in all. Ran my first tempo run...did 2 runs outside in 30 degree temps. That in itself is an accomplishment for me! I don't mind running in the cold! Today my fingers felt like they were going to freeze off, but I didn't mind it because it kept my mind off the distance. I did 4 miles today. I ran on the street and I totally felt like a pain in the butt how all the cars were swerving around me. But I'm much more comfortable on the asphalt than sidewalk. I do have one traffic light each mile that I got stuck at twice which was a bit annoying, and I had to toss my water because I got tired of holding it for 1+ miles. (score for me though because I tossed it in a trash can!)

I updated my playlist a bit...so now I'm jamming to some new music. My favorite is a song my little sister Lindsay's college a cappella group performed and recorded last spring and she's on lead vocals! It's a version of Dixie Chicks "I Can Love You Better". Lindsay sounds amazing...

In other news...Logan is walking more and more- and his new favorite word is "no". No. No. No. (insert eyeroll). :)

training- week 1 in progress.

I :heart: tempo runs.

Wednesday was my very first attempt at a tempo run and I impressed myself. To begin with, the weather was in the high 30s. The plan was 30 minutes of running, so I set my watch and was off. I wasn't sure about my performance with weather that cool (I'm NOT a cold weather runner), but as I started out, my lungs seemed to be handling the cold pretty well. I regulated my breathing as I always do, and tried warming up my nose, which was the coldest part of my body. I felt awesome. I'm becoming more and more of an outside runner, that's for sure. I looped around my neighborhood and was enjoying my surroundings...and I guess I didn't realize how fast I was running.

I recorded my time and figured out the length of the route- 3.2 miles!!! That's around a 9:20 minute mile!!! That is SUPER quick for me. I'm most comfortable at a 10:40-11 minute pace...but I guess my training is starting to pay off in faster pace times! Awesome.

Today was an easy run. 3 miles on the treadmill. Boring. I need to update my iPod playlist sometime soon!

epiphany.

<---Our Family

Since my blog title is runnermom, I guess I can blog about being a runner and being a mom!

I have a 15 month old son, Logan. To say he is a good baby is an understatement. He is the best child ever! I'm biased because I'm his mom, but seriously, he's amazing. He's got dark blond hair that is in bad need of a first "real" haircut, blue eyes, and the most expressive eyebrows you've ever seen. He has a perfect little profile and a little cleft in his chin, compliments of his daddy. Logan is growing up so fast. I was putting him to bed last night and telling him how I remember how his body used to fit in my arms...not anymore. He also just started walking- a little late, but that's okay! His little thigh and arm muscles are pretty buff from crawling so much so long! And he's starting to say a few words now too. His favorite word being, of course, Da. :) Not to mention his personality is just like his daddy's too. He's becoming quite the character!!

training begins.

Well, today marks the first day of training for the Shamrock Shuffle. I'm following Hal Higdon's Intermediate 8K training program. Since Hal helped me train for the half, I'm thinking if it ain't broke...don't fix it!

As far as goals for this race...I would like to finish in 50 minutes. That's kind of ambitious for me...but I'll try my best!

My run today took place on my treadmill. It felt great- for the most part. Today I wasn't looking forward to my run for some reason...it will be better tomorrow when I can get outside!

catching up to the present.

After my "spectacular" performance at the half marathon...my allergies started seriously acting up. My head was congested and aching, I was coughing, my throat was sore and it continued for a few weeks. I can't run sick, so I took some time off and only ran on days I was feeling decent. Thank goodness this decided to wait till after the race though! I felt so guilty for not running, but I didn't want to push myself. I found that running on a non-regular basis is kind of like riding a bike- my body for the most part was able to get right back into running 4 miles...albeit slow.

Soon, the new I-355 extension was due to open up and I found out there was going to be a 5K on the new1.25 mile DesPlaines River Valley bridge on November 11. So I registered, and my husband did too, and one of my best friends Eunice was going to run it with us. I didn't train for this race, but I did want to try to accomplish a PR. I found out when we arrived at the race that it was not timed, so a PR wasn't happening...but it was a super cool experience. In December, I began to round up some girls to run the Shamrock Shuffle 8K in Chicago on March 30! I'd heard it was a fun race, so I registered on January 1.

race day.

<--- Me! Banco Popular Chicago Half Marathon

Race day finally arrived. My husband came with me to cheer me on...he had been incredibly supportive of my training even though it took up a lot of time. He gave me an iPod shuffle for race day to show his pride in me.

We left the house while it was still dark outside...around 5:00am. We got to the starting line in plenty of time. I was in the way back with all the slower runners. I have found I run most efficiently when I start out slow and gain speed as my endurance builds up. I did make one mistake and forgot to wear my husband's timing watch, so I had to depend on the clocks along the course to keep tabs on my time. I had 2 goals for this race:

1- To run the ENTIRE race.
2- To finish in under 2:30.

The first 4 miles passed with ease. I felt great...like I could run forever! I saw my husband right around mile 5...that gave me a boost! The weather was perfect. Sunny and comfortable...not too warm, not too cold. I met a few runners along the way and chatted a bit, reveling in the experience. I was also on the lookout for my friend Betty, who told me she would be heading to the course to cheer me on. My cousin Karyn and her 2 girls were also in the group of onlookers, but I didn't see them. By mile 9 I was starting to question my decision about running 13.1 miles. I was starting to lag a bit, but I was determined to keep going. I was NO quitter. After every refueling station, I willed my legs to propel me forward. I had brought a few gels with me, and I tried gulping them down at several intervals during the race. They made me gag. Not the energy source for me!

When I saw the clock for mile 11, that was the motivation I needed to push myself harder and faster. I was coming into the last 2 miles of the race and I was going to finish strong no matter what. My adrenaline kicked into high gear and my legs were gliding over the pavement with virtually no effort at all. All of a sudden, the crowd became more dense and the cheering became louder...I was almost at the end! I looked to my left and saw Betty and her husband Brian and yelled thanks to them for coming out to support me. Seeing them gave me an extra jolt...and then a minute later I saw my amazing husband to my right with a huge smile on his face. The finish line was close now, just a few more steps...and I crossed it with a chip time of 2 hours, 26 minute and 9 seconds! I accomplished BOTH goals for my first half marathon! A wave of pride and accomplishment engulfed me as I disposed my chip in the bucket, grabbed a water bottle and went in search of my husband. A short while later, the adrenaline wore off and my legs felt like jello beneath me, but nothing could damper my spirits- I was a half marathoner.

me, the unlikely runner.

I started registering for races in the spring, and ran my first 5K, Cinco de Mayo 5K, in May, 2007, in just over 30 minutes at a pace of just under 10 minutes per mile. My finish time got me thinking that maybe I'm not the slowest runner in the world after all...and it also peaked my interest for a distance race. My cousins Amy and Jessica had just completed a half marathon in Portland, OR...so they definitely had a hand in providing the motivation for me to give it a shot. I took the plunge a few days after my first 5K and registered for the Banco Popular Chicago Half Marathon in September, 2007.

I began my 18 week training program in May, 2007. I used a modified version of Hal Higdon's novice half marathon training program. At first, looking at my training schedule was incredibly overwhelming. I'd only run 4 miles tops at any point during my running "career". How would I finish 13.1 miles? But I was determined and every week after I completed my long run, I felt a mix of satisfaction that I'd finished that weeks run, and dread for the next weeks.

My discipline during my training surprised even me. I completed my runs faithfully, even while on vacation in Florida at the end of May. The only runs I missed were when I was in Denver, CO for a family function- I was nervous to run in the altitude, and one week when I was sick. I was nervous about missing my runs, but it worked out in the end and I had no problems tacking on that extra mile every 2 weeks. One extremely hot Sunday, I was irresponsible and left my water at the beginning of my course- I ran without water for 4 miles. I started feeling faint and had to give up at 5. I never made that mistake again.

In July, my husband and I ran the Viking Sunset 5K in Geneva, IL. It was a gorgeous Wednesday evening and we both accomplished PRs. I shaved over a minute off my time from my first 5K, and my husband finished in just over 26 minutes. WOW!

Meanwhile, I was slowly accumulating the miles during my training. I remember being so afraid that I would injure myself...and the worst that happened was slight pain behind my right knee when I ran on an incline. But as I became used to running 6, 7, 8 miles at one time, the pain eventually lessened then disappeared.

Finally the day for my 10 mile training run arrived. My son had spent the night at my parents' house (a trial run for race day the next week) and I ran my 10 miler along a trail near their house. I completed the run in 1:48...with virtually no discomfort at all! That sealed my confidence that I could definitely complete the half marathon successfully.

on again, off again.

I've had an on again, off again relationship with running from the beginning. I credit my 25 pound weight loss before my wedding to running, but as soon as the honeymoon was over, I slowly eased back into my old habits of laziness and regained that weight and then some. Even though I loved running and the way it made me feel, it wasn't enough to get me running on a regular basis. Summer of 2004 found me again very unhappy with my weight and my lifestyle habits, so in the winter of 2005, I decided to do something about it. I joined a weight loss competition at work, and for good measure, also participated in a fitness challenge at my local gym at the time. I figured the double motivation wasn't going to hurt! When I started, I weighed 150, which doesn't sound like much, but on my 5 foot frame, it was WAY too much.

So I started running again. Mostly treadmill running, but also enjoyed runs along a trail in my town. I also started tracking my caloric intake and I lifted weights. By April, 2005 I had dropped 30 pounds and was in the best shape of my life! I amazed myself by placing second in the weight loss competition at work (out of men AND women) and by placing first in my age group in the fitness challenge at the gym. That gave me the best boost in confidence and motivation ever!

I was able to keep the weight off and continued running until I found out I was pregnant in February, 2006. Running during my pregnancy was not an option for me, so I temporarily (but grudgingly) gave it up . My awesome baby boy was born in September, 2006 and after his birth, I became a stay at home mom. In January, my husband (who is a recreational runner) and I discontinued our gym memberships and purchased a treadmill so we could run at home, and I could run during my son's naptimes. I started running again regularly in February, 2007 and this time, running would become part of my lifestyle.

my history.

My love for running began about 5 years ago, in February, 2003. I was being married in June, 2003 and had vowed to lose 25 pounds for it. Of course, being the procrastinator that I am, I put off dieting and exercise until the very last minute. I started out on the elliptical machine and liked it, but it didn't seem to be the workout I was looking for. So I used the elliptical to warm up, and then I started jogging on the treadmill. When I started out, I was winded before I completed the first block. But I was able to slowly build up to jogging for 25 minutes (this was before I'd heard about the Couch to 5K program) straight...about 2 miles. Before I knew it, I was running 2-3 miles 5-6 times a week, and the extra weight started melting off. My obsession began and soon, I was running for many reasons besides weight loss.