Marathon Training: Report 21

This marks the end of seven weeks of training, and the end of a really tough three weeks. The end of next week will mark the halfway point.

Friday:

Got my swim in. Still need goggles, but managed to pull out 1000 m in 27 minutes. I alternated all kinds of strokes today. Side stroke? Elementary backstroke anyone? It was a ragin' good time.

2 miles in 20:51

Then I came home and hopped on the treadmill. Needed to prep the legs for Saturday's loooooooooooong run.

Saturday:

20 miles in 3:31:50 (10:35 pace)

This was my most intimidating run to date. Twenty miles, seriously? That is like FOREVER. We attend church services for three hours on Sunday. That's a long time, right? But this run took three and a HALF hours.

I ran the first 12 on the treadmill. Watched a mostly lame movie. Listened to the Ipod some, then threw on the warmer layers and did the last 8 outside in the cold. It was tough to run that long but I made it!!! And my legs ached afterward like never before.

I wonder why. :-)


Happy running!

Marathon Training: Report 20

Wednesday:

Spin class for 55 minutes. I'm getting better at it! Tough to do after the previous day's speedwork. When it was time to sprint on the bike I found the legs not super responsive, but a good time nonetheless. There is a great repore in that class and I am enjoying being part of it.

Thursday:

I planned to get up early for my Thursday swim. I just couldn't get out of bed that early again. Later in the day I posted this on dailymile, "I think I'm feeling training burnout. Six days a week of mostly intense workouts, plus a husband who is hardly home, plus five kids under 10, plus commitments with church and the kids' schools and extra activities, minus a housecleaning service, a nanny, a cook, a personal assistant, or any family or help in the area is wearing me out. My house is trashed, I'm exhausted, and my kids need more from me. Tough to admit that I can't do everything darnit! I think I'm going to have to step back the training a bit. I'm sure I'll still be able to run the marathon, but maybe I'll just have to run it a little bit slower. But you know, if this realization is the worst thing that happened today, I'm still pretty blessed. Now off to do the bedtime routine."

This training is harder than I anticipated. I mentally planned for the time it would take to do the actual training. I didn't plan for how taxing it would be on my body. How I would crave extra sleep but have less time for it. How I might be really really sore some days but still have to run the laundry up the stairs. How it would be hard to have the energy for the many other very busy moments of the day.

So I'm re-evaluating my training. Again. Last time I did that I ramped it up significantly. This time I plan to pull it back some.

But I'm still running the marathon.


Happy running!

Marathon Training: Report 19

Monday:

Weights at the gym for 48 minutes. Upper body and core. I do not love weight lifting, but think it is important so I'm trying to get it in there.

3 miles in 31:01, recovery run.

Nice and slow for the first 2.65 miles. Then the gym daycare let me know I had a stinky kid so rather than cut the workout short (which I should have done), I super sprinted to the end.

Tuesday:

6 miles in 56:39, speedwork.

This run accomplished a goal I've had for months! I ran 5 miles in under 45 minutes!! You speedies won't be all too impressed, but I've been running for just over a year.

When I first started I wanted to be able to run a whole mile in 12 minutes. As I got better I set my sights on being able to run 3 miles without stopping in 30 minutes. I got to that point some months ago. In the back of my mind being able to run 5 miles in 45 minutes became this seemingly unreachable dream that I hoped for someday. I didn't ever really focus on it, as I instead set my sights on a half marathon, and now the upcoming marathon, but I didn't forget.

Today was the day! I ran the first mile in 10:58 to warm up, followed by 4 miles (this was a tempo run) in 36:26 (9:06 pace). While running I thought about my goal and decided to pound out one last mile and see if I could make it. I ran the last mile in 8:15, which means the last five were in 44:41. Go ME!!


Happy running!

Seven Year-old Thoughts on Shaun White

While watching DVR'd men's halfpipe a couple of days ago with the kids...

Me: Isn't Shaun White just amazing? He is the best in the world. Just incredible.

The Artist: [very seriously] Yeah. Incredible for his hair, and incredible for his moves.

Marathon Training: Report 18

Well, wishing I was keeping up with the other fun times in my life unrelated to training on this blog. Hopefully I'll be able to get something else up soon. Training is having quite an impact on my life right now, so I suppose the blog is just a reflection of that. Ten weeks from today I'll be a marathoner!!!

Yesterday was supposed to be an easy 3 miles, and that's it. However, I allowed myself to be peer pressured into a Boot Camp class at the gym with a friend. My kids were thrilled to play with her kids in child care, so we grabbed granola bars for breakfast and were off.

The class itself was good. The running around the room doing obstacles was different, though not too tough, but the strength work, as in hold-the-plank-position-until-your-body-shakes-with-fatigue was super challenging for this upper body wimp. I'm sure it was good for me though.

After the class (50 minutes as I was 10 minutes late), I headed up to the treadmill to get my three miles in. Just couldn't give up the running even though I'd added the extra class. I ran it in 32:49 (10:56 pace) while visiting with two friends, including the one from the class. They left before I was done so I listened to the good old Ipod while watching the captions on Tiger's press conference. So sad when families come apart, regardless of the reasons.

Today I'm not sure if the Boot Camp class was such a good idea. My run was super tough, and I'm sure that was a contributing factor, but still no regrets.

Here's what I posted on DailyMile:

18:01 miles in 3:13:26 (10:44 pace)

Slower pace than planned for. Should have been at 10:37. Ran to the forest preserve but after a few miles there I had to choose another place to run. The snow was deep enough and the hills frequent enough to make the running really really hard for me. After passing a cross country skiier I knew I didn't have the energy for a long run on that difficult of terrain. Still encountered a fair amount of snowy buildup on the sidewalks and some hills that really kicked my rear in my detoured path.

Accidently ran through a puddle about half way through that drenched one of my feet. Treadmills are boring, but no wet feet!

Tried to eat breakfast a few hours before leaving and true to form, it made my stomach feel very upset. Guess I am destined to only start runs on a banana. Even though the last few miles were torture, I was proud to pound out the last half mile in about 4:35. Then I wanted to vomit. :)

Runs like this are discouraging and encouraging at the same time. I am bummed that it didn't go as planned and I couldn't keep pace, but pleased that despite the difficulties, I finished the miles I had set out to do. Haven't felt this hammered after a run in a long time. Thank goodness for the day of rest tomorrow!!! I'll need it.


Happy running!

Marathon Training: Report 17

Wednesday is spin class on the current schedule. I tried to get there early enough to do weights before it started, but that only sortive worked out. I had 15 minutes and choose to do back and abs/core work.

Spin was easier, mostly, except my legs were really burning from Tuesday's run.

This morning I went early enough to finish my weights, working on chest, shoulders, bi's and tri's for 22 minutes before swimming 1000 meters in 32 minutes. That is 200 meters further than last week AND I swam a whole 1K!! Still hard to breathe and swim, and Mr. Bloomer's googles turned out not to work any better than the Actress's had. I need to buy some for me. Overall though, it was a good workout.

Lucky me. Only a three mile run in the morning and I might even go outside. It was WARM today (keep in mind that warm is a relative term).

Now I am just utterly exhausted. It was a super full day with housecleaning, preschool, a dentist appointment, and multiple playdates. Time to fix dinner, read some kids' books, and get the kids and I to bed.


Happy running!

Marathon Training: Report 16

Monday was an easy recovery run. Slept in and had to run after the kids were up and the older ones delivered to school, which isn't my favorite.

3 miles in 31:44 (10:34 pace)

Tuesday is my harder running day and speedwork was on the schedule. I warmed up for a mile and a half, and then ran 1 mile in 8:27 with a half mile recovery before running 1 mile in 8:20. Then I had to hop off to change diapers and fix breakfast as the kids were getting up early.

Ran back down to the treadmill while they ate and ran a quarter mile to get moving again, following by 1 mile in 8:00, and 1.25 miles to cool down. Had hoped for 7 miles, but cut it short at 6.5 to get Mr. Bloomers to the bus. However, when I got upstairs Mr. Bloomers said he needed to take the later train so he could finish what he was working on already. I wasted no time going back to the treadmill for a last half mile in 4:40.

7 miles in 1:08:03 (9:41 pace).

I'm getting tireder everyday. Is tireder even a word? This is hard work, but I'm grateful that my body is strong enough to do it.


Happy running!

Marathon Training: Report 15

This week has been really tough. I am not a professional athlete, and I don't get to nap when I'm tired, or have a sports massage when I'm sore. I'm a mom and duty almost always calls. I got up to train between 5 and 5:30 AM all week long to get it done before the kids were needing me, until Friday, when I decided I would have to get the short run in later cause I needed a little extra sleep.

This was a recovery run. Thanks to Playhouse Disney for providing the baby-sitting for the preschoolers while I ran 3 miles in 31:46 just to keep the legs moving. I was SO SORE from the weight lifting that I found myself trying to keep my upper body as still as possible while I ran. Sure I looked funny.

Saturday meant time for another long run: 16 miles. And it was freezing outside again. After the frozen Fuel Belt and eyelashes run of a couple of weeks ago, I determined that I couldn't do that again. I'm not a polar bear people!

So I instead performed the mentally draining act of running for 2:49:36 on a treadmill. Yes, THE TREADMILL for nearly THREE HOURS! I watched a movie and then listened to my Ipod. It was pretty boring, but I pulled through because I am so afraid of not being ready for May 1st. My intense fear of being poorly trained is very motivating. Praying for warmer temps by next Saturday.


Happy running!

Marathon Training: Report 14

Let the cross-training begin!

Wednesday and Thursday presented new adventures. I'll share what I posted on dailymile here about those two days.

Wednesday, February 10th:
Spin Class – -->01:00
First spin class ever. Thoughts from a beginner:
1. How do you get comfy on this thing? Couldn't the seat be bigger? How does someone with a big bum ever get comfortable? I'm not even that big and it's impossible!
2. This is super easy. Why do people make such a big deal about getting a workout in a spin class? What does he mean by level? Oh, this lever controls resistance. Oh, I see. Yeah, not so easy anymore. Crud. That kind of hurts. That's hard.
3. Position 3. What is that? Like ballet or something?
4. Did that song just say "Don't stop the music?" cause if the music stopped I could get off. My legs are burning. Sprint. What? My legs are en fuego. Doesn't he know I ran hard yesterday?
5. Only 25 minutes down. How long does this class go? Maybe it will end early. Should I let down the resistance? No. Need to make every workout count. Plus, I don't want to be shown up by the guys around me.
6. 15 minutes left. I'm rockin it now. I like these jumps.
7. And done. PHEW! How far did I go? I have no idea.

Thursday, February 11th:
Upper body and a little abs – -->00:30
Um. So in all these months of running my arms didn't magically get stronger like my legs did. Good first time back to the weights since forever ago.
Gym Pool – -->800 m / 00:24
Go me for crosstraining again!!! Thoughts on swimming for the first time in a super long time (unless you count wading around with the kids):
1. These goggles, borrowed from 9-year old will be great. Nice seal. Darnit, they're already filling with water and I'm only on my second lap. Now they're fogging up. I give up. I'll just go goggleless and close my eyes a lot. Without my contacts I can hardly see anyway.
2. Swimming is awesome. Everything is coming back to me from swim team 20 years ago. Except I'm only on the fourth lap and I can't breathe. Seriously, how do people breathe and swim at the same time? Can't get enough air. Do I look as challenged as I feel?
3. Okay, time to alternate strokes. Two laps free, two laps back. Two laps free, two laps breast. I can breathe again! Whew.
4. 400 yards and I'm doing great.
5. 500 yards and I'm getting a little tired.
6. 600 yards. Crud. That old guy is toasting me! He just must be really fast. I can't be that slow.
7. 700 yards. Endurance is waining. Come on legs. Keep kicking! Keep kicking! I'm sinking darnit.
8. 800 yards. And done. Good thing I can blame an early quit time on being in a hurry to get home and get the kids to school.

I have a whole new admiration for triathletes. It's really hard to train on more than one thing. Based on the last two days of spinning and swimming I am not seeing a triathlon in the near future. But maybe someday...


Happy running (and biking and lifting and swimming)!

Marathon Training: Report 13

After mulling over the last month's training, reading about other people's experiences with marathon training, studying various beginning marathon training schedules and pondering quite a bit, I have come up with this basic schedule:

Monday: Easy run (3-4 miles) and light weight training
Tuesday: Harder run with speedwork or tempo work or hills (5-7 miles)
Wednesday: Spin class at the gym with light weight training either this day, or the next
Thursday: Swimming at the gym with a possible short run (2-3 miles) and/or weight training
Friday: Easy run (3-4 miles)
Saturday: Long run

Am I overdoing it? Maybe. We'll see. I went from running 5 days a week to running 3 days a week, and now I'll run 4-5 days a week, with 2 crosstraining days and a little bit of weights. I'm hoping the crosstraining will help me raise my fitness level another notch without overdoing the running itself. I'm going to stick with this for the next four weeks, and then evaluate again to see if I need to change things up at all.

I've had a strong start to my new plan this week. Both yesterday and today I got up early enough to finish my runs by 6:55 and 7:02 respectively, so I could start right in on getting kids ready for school.

Yesterday I ran 4 easy miles in 43:04.

Today I ran 7 miles in 1:08:16. I started with 1 mile to warm-up and then did three sets of the following: 1.5 miles at a 9:14 pace followed by a half mile recovery at about a 10:50 pace. I sprinted a little in the last half mile just because I wanted to. Not sure that was wise, but it was empowering at the moment!

The next three Saturdays I'll be running 16 miles, 18 miles, and 20 miles, and I am feeling rather intimidated about that. I keep trying to remind myself that I've been gradually building up my endurance for months, and if I could handle a freezing 14 miler, I can do these increasing distances.

But I'm still a little scared.


Happy running!

Long Overdue

Merry Christmas Friends!


As you know we made a great surprise trip to Boston to visit Mr. Bloomer's parents on their mission. Wouldn't want them to be alone for Christmas, ya know?


We have wonderful pictures of our trip there, the moment of surprise, and decorating our hotel room. But alas, Mr. Bloomers downloaded them onto a different computer and has yet to transfer them to this one where they would be useful.


Fortuneately, I do have a few of the pictures from Christmas morning, taken at the good old Hampton in Westford, MA and the missionary apartment as well. Enjoy!


Princess was a little unsure about the whole opening presents thing. It didn't take long for her to get the hang of it though.


Nothing says Merry Christmas (or any other positive message) like chocolate! Like mother like son.


New gifts are so fun!


Decorating your dad is fun too.


Anyone think we needed more plastic horses?!?


Lucky for us Grandma, families are forever!

Marathon Training: Report 12

7.05 miles in 1:15:00 (10:38 pace)

I am ditching my old training schedule. I am going to still keep the long runs as prescribed, mostly at least, but I hope to spend some time tomorrow figuring out how to better spend the next 12 WEEKS UNTIL THE MARATHON!!!

The first change will be to go to four days of running per week: Two days with easy miles, one day midweek with a more challenging workout (alternating between tempo runs, speedwork, or hill training), and of course the Saturday long runs will keep getting longer.

Additionally, I am going to crosstrain two days per week. Leaning heavily towards the gym option, with swimming, spin classes, and weight training as possibilities.

As for today...

I was considering running outside when Mr. Bloomers came downstairs in his outside running duds. I was so happy for him to be back to pounding the pavement, that I happily took to the treadmill instead whilst the babe slept and the other four mostly tended to themselves. Max and Little Mommy spent most of the time playing in the basement by me. It was nice.

I really am fatter than I was two months ago. I'm not feeling sorry for myself or saying that I think I am fat, but I am saying that the extra pounds of chocolate and ice cream now attached to my legs, bum, and belly do make it harder to keep pace.

During this run I rediscovered my motivation to eat better. And today, I am proud to announce that I didn't sneak any treats. Not even the whole day. And I'm not even going to have one now before bed! Yes, I did have a little ice cream with dinner, but it was a very reasonable amount, and it was at a church gathering with HOMEMADE ice cream. Who can say no to that?


Happy running!

Marathon Training: Report 11

Yesterday I was supposed to run 7 easy miles @10:50.

I didn't run at all. I slept in.

This morning I ran 5 miles, progressively faster while playing with the treadmill incline in 52:02 (10:24 average pace). I didn't get up early enough to do more than that.

This marathon training isn't working for me. I thought that within a few weeks I would adjust to three days of running longer amounts, in lieu of my usual 4-6 days of running shorter amounts.

I'm not.

I'm grumpy. Three helpings a week of the runner's high isn't cutting it.

So...exploring other options. Do I:

1. Change up my training from what has been prescribed. Take away miles from midweek runs to create an extra day of running without increasing mileage. I don't want to touch my long run distances, but could I be okay messing with the midweek stuff?

2. Order P90X or some other at home DVD system to do two mornings a week for crosstraining?

3. Purchase a weight bench, an exercise ball, and some basic free weights?

4. Join a gym? Ironic that I cancelled our gym membership effective January 31st. I LOVED our gym, but it was just too far away and I couldn't make it work anymore. It took 45 minutes to load the kids, drive there, unload them, walk to the child care center, drop them off, pick them up, walk them back out, and drive home. I could do a whole workout in that much time! There is another newer gym closer to me that opened while we were with the other gym. It is smaller, and doesn't have all the same features (like allowing the kids to play at the indoor pool) but it is cheaper too. And people I know that go there like it. And they have a cycling class at 5:45 AM twice a week. That could work, and I could go early enough to lift weights for a half hour or so. They do have a free one-day trial pass.

All I do know is that I've got to do something different cause I'm losing my mojo, and I have a marathon on the horizon, and more importantly, five darling kids who need me to be my best self.

So crosstraining...here I come!


Happy running!

Marathon Training: Report 10

Three months from today is THE BIG DAY.

Today was an easy run, 7 miles at 10:50.

Actual run: 7 miles in 1:15:09 (10:44 pace).

Just couldn't do the cold again this morning. I had to start running by 5:34 AM to be done in time to get the kids off to school. I wanted every possible second of sleep, which means I didn't even want to take the time to put on all of those miserable layers. Shorts and a tank are just so much easier!

I think I was still asleep for the first mile and change, and I didn't really feel like I was awake and hitting my groove until 4.25 miles in, but considering how sore I was on Saturday, this was a pretty good run.


Happy running!