Early decison

The decision to register for a race is not always easy. When I started to run, I registered for every event early. No questions asked, I was going to be there. Most of that was newbie excitement to running and racing. The first time we ran the CVS 5k we weren't quite sure if the bib went on the front or the back, that's how far we've come. I've registered for large races, paid big money (Chicago Marathon) and not run. I've also trained for big races (Cox Marathon) and got hurt and not run. (2 reasons why the marathon has been crossed off my bucket list) Things come up and there is nothing that can be done. Injuries, illness, poor training, a hangover, a baby...there are always last minute reasons why a race might not happen. Now I typically register on race day or just before. Here's the problem with that, races fill up and race management starts to jack prices up. If I register for the 70.3 today, I'll save $50 off the latest registration fee, that's enough for my wet suit rental. I'm not ready to register. I have my toes tipped on the line, training has gone better than expected but it's barely begun. All I've proven is that I can manage to exercise during naps, maybe I'm better off with an Olympic distance and look at the 70.3 next year. But I don't know what next year will bring and if I'll have the time to train that I've come to enjoy lately. Maybe I'm just procrastinating and should just do it, give them my money, commit and call it at day. Ah, the decisions and what if's are endless. Why can't they give me a few more weeks?

Miles trained today: 5

Too cold out...

There once was a time I would peserverate over running in temps like today, 10 degrees at 10am, but not any more, one of the few joys of my weekday treadmill sentence. The problem becomes more about what the excuse will be to skip if I'm not going to use the weather. Yesterday a SEVERE lack of sleep won out and there was no training to be had. And as discussed previously I could use that excuse from now on and never train again. The other problem is I continue to pal around people who keep running and if I give into my gluttonous desires of days filled with naps and hot chocolate topped with fluff, I'll quickly find myself in the market for a new set of slower friends. So down I went and squeezed in 7x800m just in time for my pint sized boss to awake with a never ending list of demands.

Miles trained today: 21.9 (That's right, after lunch I found myself passing afternoon nap time on the indoor trainer)

Good bye 2011

I always have the lofty goal of counting up all my miles for the year but am never quite that organized. Other than a brief hiatus (when I hit whale size and was too heavy to run) I ran for most of the year. No half marathons or marathons but crossed the finish line at plenty of 5k's, a 4 miler, 10k, and 2 tri's. I've manage to return to a moderate level of training while still in boot camp for new parents. For me it was a good year with some really good runs. Other than the delivery of my son a highlight and real sense of accomplishment has been returning to running after pregnancy and delivery. I don't mean to brag but I ran a 4 miler when he was less than 3 months old and finished a tri when he was 4 months old, you have to give credit where credit is due. After all is said and done, I'm here as the Mom to a 6 month old who is still able to find the time to train. I love that look I get when people ask if I'm still able to run. Yep, I am and if you really want to know I'm enjoying it more now than ever before. Here's to another great year running with friends and family.

Miles run today: 9

So tempting

Man, there are times I really wished I didn't train, there are days I day dream of a life filled with cinnamon rolls, sausage links, naps and day time TV. Last week ended up being a recovery week, it was a crazy weekend and long workouts just weren't going to fit and I kept yesterday as a planned day off. Today was back at it and the desire wasn't there after 3 days off. I took my sweet time getting the kid down for a nap and then took about 20 minutes before I made it down to the treadmill. Thought HARD about getting off after a mile. Then the excuses started coming fast and furious: This is all just basework, I don't need to take it too seriously...I'll run this afternoon...I'll bike and run tomorrow...and so on like that for the entire 4 miles. I know why I keep going, I like to eat and hate to diet. That and I really love the feel at the finish line.

Miles run today: 4

Putting the cart before the horse

Today was the day I was going to add in a speed workout. Repeat miles sounded good, as I knew I could keep the pace a bit slower than if I had went with repeat 800's. Off I go and realize very quickly that I have no idea what I want or need for a pace. If it were just the Hyannis Half I was training for things would be easier, but I have no idea what to expect for a half iron man which is the real goal of all this training. My PR for a half is just under 2 hours but that was several years ago and I didn't swim or bike beforehand. I'm also not sure that sprint races are a good gauge either, the distance doesn't really compare and I never took the training seriously. But lets be real for a moment, IF I register for the half iron man and IF I get to the start and IF I finish I likely won't give a damn about pace and will be overjoyed with a finishing time. So again where do I start with speed. 8 miles last weekend was at a 10:32 pace which would get me a 2:18 half. SO do I go with 10 min pace for repeat miles and a 9:30 for the 800's? I also figure that in a half iron man my running pace will be at least a min slower meaning that an 11:30 pace would bring me in at about 2:31. Now I've only confused myself more.

Miles run today: 4

Rejuvenated legs

I've been on a kick, since hearing Jason Fowler speak, to not miss a workout. So that means I'm going 6 days a week with my rest day being Monday and it also means that there are times I've felt a bit stale. The nice thing is I'm varying a lot between running, cycling and swimming so there different muscle groups are being taxed but there is an undeniable cumulative effect. That combined with 6 hours of sleep a night (I don't want to hear it from those friends who get less, I'm used to a solid 10-12) and I'm pooped. Yesterday I said fuck it and skipped my bike ride. I did feel guilty about it all day and contemplated riding after work, only contemplated did not act on it. I had forgotten what fresh legs feel like and it's almost as nice as fresh sheets on the bed. Man it was great, I didn't care about being on the treadmill or the fact that the Internet was messed up so no movies. I stopped at 5 miles so I would have time to shower before my pint sized companion woke up but felt like I could have gone further. Played with pace a little, not enough for it to count as a speed workout but enough that I might do a speed workout next week. The problem is I can't take 2 rest days every week so days like to day will remain few and far between.

Miles run today: 5

Ah, the routine

It's been a while but I'm a regular runner again. I'm consistently getting in 3 runs a week and don't have the need yet to add in another although that's coming eventually. The kid has whipped me into shape, I used to be known for skipping workouts and trying to make them up later in the week. That's a no go now, if I squander my chance it's gone for good until the same time next week. I also never really cared about pace but as he's become more predicatable so have the times I have to run. The slower I go the less miles I accumulate, the baby monitor is an unforgiving reminder of my time constraints. Once the red lights start to flicker, it's only a short matter of minutes before he hits full pitch so I got to get it in before they start. I used to hope for false alarms, he's not really awake or maybe it's picking up the dogs but that's never the case; it's the kid signaling the end of another workout. So all in all he's helping my workouts. He's forcing me not to skip and to run faster...who needs a coach when you have a kid snoozing upstairs.

Miles run today: 4