Change it up Tuesday

Today the weather was blah. It wasn't raining, but it was wet and humid. I decided to stay in and run. I rather like having that option. My plan had me down for a 4.5 miler. That seems like a long way to go on a treadmill, but since Bill has done longer runs on the hamster wheel, I thought I'd give it a try. When I got on I set it for 6.0 (10 min/mi pace), After three laps I bumped up to 6.3. Three laps later I went to 6.6 (just shy of 9 m/m). After three laps I went back to 6.3 and then down to 6.0. So instead of doing the 4.5 miles, I did 3.1 at a good, speedy pace --about a 9:35 pace -- in 29:45, which is right around my race pace. I thought that was a better workout that doing the 4.5. I'll save that for Thursday.

I like having a plan. I use that as a point from which to deviate. That's my life story. I always have a plan, but I don't think anything ever goes according to plan. I am pleased with today's run. My back hurts a little bit, but I rolled it this evening and it feels better. I didn't get much sleep last night. For some reason I was wired when I got into bed and Tawny's incessant snoring didn't help. Yesterday and today I woke up with a sore throat. I am hoping that it is just something to do with the wacky weather and not some crud coming on. In the past four days we have bounced from highs near 80 and lows in the mid-60s to highs in the 50s and lows in the 30s. Tomorrow morning is supposed to be 39 degrees. This morning it was 69. I don't mind either weather; I just want it to be consistent. But this is NW Fla, so I shouldn't be too surprised.

Long run today

It was a good long run. I felt like keeping going. The weather was an optimal 55 degrees or so. However, there was a strong wind coming off the water, so it was a little chilly initially. I had my jacket, gloves, and hat, all of which were necessary the first mile or two. After that, I didn't need them.

I started up the north loop of Navy Point Park, which is one mile. Then I went and did the south loop, which is 3.5 miles, and did one more north loop. Then I took a two minute break to put the jacket and stuff in the car and get a drink of water. Then I did the south loop again and the north loop one more time to get my 10 miles in. Wow! Ten miles! I can't believe I'm doing ten miles, barely eight months after I started running. I'm pretty impressed with that. And the fact that it didn't take everything out of me and I thought I could do more bodes well for the big race.

Here's the breakdown: 10:46, 10:40, 10:57, 11:17, 11:42, 11:34, 11:18, 11:33, 11:38, 11:43, 0:50/0.07mi. The total is 10.07 miles in 1:53:58, for an average pace of 11:19. I am really happy with that! If I can maintain that pace for the entire half, that will get me through in 2:30, which is what I want.

Dan and Vicki have been training with run/walk. They run 5 minutes and walk one minute. That averages them to 11:30 pace, which is great, but I'm wondering if I want to do that with them or if I want to run it, taking walk breaks as I need them. I will have a good time running with them, and I'm doing this to have run, not to break or set any speed records. The other part of me says that if I can run 13 miles straight, I should run 13 miles straight. I'll figure it out in the next 40 days.

Then I came home and Tawny didn't last the whole three hours. Cleaning up dog pee brought me back to reality. Yay.

Running again

Went out this morning covered from head to toe! The temp was 43 at 7am and the windchill made it feel like 34. Brrr! I had my tights and a long sleeve tech shirt. I wore a windbreaker, which was good because it really did cut the amount of wind I felt, but bad because it was really loose and blousy. I also had a hat and gloves. I was good for most of the run, but then I felt a little warm. When I finished the run and took my jacket off, I was freezing. I picked up a running jacket at Target this morning. I think that will work better. I hope tomorrow morning will be a little warmer.

I did the two neighborhood loops for four miles. Splits were 10:49, 10:17, 10:20, 10:48. I counted my cadence today once during each mile. I came up with 83 to 84. I thought that was an improvement over the 80 I told Coach Mark I was. But today I started wondering about that. I think the last time I counted my cadence it was 70 to 75. Regardless, I concentrated a lot on leg turnover this morning. I wanted to take shorter strides and more steps per minute. I am not at the 90 Coach Mark wants me at, but I will get there. Tomorrow I am going to just concentrate on stride and distance. I'll try to take shorter steps and more steps, but I just want to get the long run done.

I talked with my friend Dan today, the one who convinced me to do this half marathon. Six weeks from tonight, it will all be over. Five weeks of training left. That's it! Whew!

Black Friday

Well, it was not enough to put us in the black this year, but it was one of the best days we've had in a while. It was busy from the open at 9 through about 3 this afternoon. I'm quite pleased. I hope we can have more days like that!

There isn't a whole lot more to say. I did get the opportunity to work on Thurston's blanket some and I realized I'm a little farther along than I thought. Two more repeats and then the end loops. That's encouraging. It is really turning out beautifully. I'll definitely post a picture before I gift it to the little guy/gal.

The weather was about 70+ degrees when I woke up this morning. The forecasters all said that the highs would be at midnight and the temps would plummet throughout the day. Sure enough, while I was driving home the rearview mirror registered 49. Tomorrow morning's run will probably be a little chilly.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I like Thanksgiving! I have so much to be thankful for that sometimes I'm overwhelmed when I think about it. As a vegetarian I don't like the fact that this holiday has become all about the turkey, but I am trying not to focus on that much.

I received several invitations to dinner today. I am thankful to have so many friends and customers who were concerned that I would be alone today. That means a lot to me! I was also invited to my in-laws, but that would require closing the shop. While that sounds like a great idea, and it would have been fun, with all the upcoming closings, I figure it wouldn't be the smartest business move to make.

So I will be spending the holiday at my friend Angela's house. She has also invited Sock Amy and her husband as well as Cherryl and Karl. They were a little hesitant, but I think I talked her into going this morning.

I ran this morning for the first time in a while. My legs were resistant at first, but seemed to get into the groove. I tried to concentrate on all the things Coach Mark and Coach John told me. I focused a lot on increasing my cadence. My stride was not very long today, but my pace seemed relatively steady. I could feel when my cadence had increased, even if I didn't have any numbers to back that feeling up.

I ran through the Zachary neighborhood and then followed part of my cycling route from the other day. I continued on Bellview across Blue Angel and then went south on East Fence Drive. Then I headed east on Saufley, went north on Blue Angel and the turned on Green Acres. I joined up with my original neighborhood loop at that point. All together it was 5 miles. I had considered doing 6, but I didn't want to push it. I wanted to run partly because it was nice out, partly because I haven't in a while, but mostly because of the food this afternoon. I know Angela will have a great spread. The clouds have rolled in, so now would be a better time to run. The temps are still in the mid-70s, but now there's not as much sun and more breeze. Such is life. I just hope the rain will hold off until I get back from dinner. My splits today were 10:24, 10:26, 10:31, 10:39, and 10:48. I think that is a good training pace. I'd like to maintain 10:30 or so.

I'm thankful for a lot of things today. My husband, who is awesome, is at the top of the list. He is so supportive and encouraging. He never tells me I can't, even when I don't think I can. He lets me be me and encourages me to be the best person I can be. He's incredible. I'm thankful for my family, even with all of its drama. There's just nothing quite like family and by family I mean both sides - my family and my in-laws. I'm thankful for my friends, both near and far. They care about me, encourage me, challenge me, and support me. And they make sure I'm not spending the holidays alone. I'm thankful for the pets. Rava and Tawny are awesome dogs. They are so well behaved and they are great company. They were happy for the Jumbone earlier today. Marco and Abby are great cats (especially since we have fixed the litterbox issue - 50 days and counting!). They are thankful for the sparkly ball and the fake mouse they got this morning. I'm thankful for my health and being able to run the distances I have been. I'm thankful for the job that Bill has, not only because it allows us to live comfortably and lets me experiment with entrepreneurship, but because it challenges and stimulates him. He may not always love his job, but he is challenged and he does develop new skills. I'm thankful for the military members who are deployed this holiday season for putting the safety and liberty of this country and its citizens selflessly ahead of themselves and their families. Without their sacrifices this world would be a very different place.

I could probably go on for a while, as my list is quite long, but I will spare you. I have a lot to be thankful for. Happy Thanksgiving to you!