Self Check

First up - October recap!

Miles Run : 205 @ 7.4 miles per hour average
Miles Cycled: 165 at 17.8 avg pace

Ok, so now a self check!

Right now I am currently so excited about my running, but I am trying to keep it at bay because I don't want to jinx myself. The past couple of weeks it has all started falling into place and my paces have dropped significantly!

I am scared to death that this is just a freak accident.

I all of a sudden have a goal to get as close to 3:20 as my body can possibly get. I ran 20.5 miles at 7:50 pace which is a 3:25. This run happened on a week FULL of training and no rest. When I got done with the run I felt like I could have kept going for miles. My body was not begging for a break, nor was it mad at me - it felt natural!

I am going to keep training like I did this past week, and try to PUSH myself as much as possible without over doing it.

I have also decided that I want to do all my runs alone. I do better this way, so it is me against me. I don't have to worry about other people, I don't have to talk, I don't have to feel bad for a stop, I don't have to stop, I don't have to ask if they want to pick it up/slow down.... it is me and me running for me!!! This has been challenging because I have SO many great friends that love group running and I am trying to separate myself from that until after the marathon. I can only hope that they understand this and do not get offended!

This Saturday is the Marine Corps 1/2 marathon. All along I never once considered having a goal, but now I DO!! I want to have a sub 7:30 average pace which would put me sub 1:38 (I would love a sub 1:37, but I am trying to be realistic!)

I have been really trying to watch my diet, but at the same time trying not to be too strict so that I have the energy to run. I want to lose 7 more pounds, which should come easy as long as I am smart with the diet and lay off alcohol. The alcohol has been easy to give up since I have changed my life by breaking up with the boyfriend.

In a nut shell, right now I am feeling HAPPY, ENERGETIC, EXCITED, HOPEFUL AND STRONG!!!!

I have 4 more Saturdays of training left!!!! EEEEEEEEEEEEEEKK!!!

Encouragement

3 different responses from 3 different trainers

Lots of love in different forms!

20.5

This week has been a crazy week of training!!! Speed has surfaced and I have been taking full advantage of it.

Sunday: 19 Miles
Monday: 1441
Tuesday: 10 Miles + PM Cycle
Wednesday: 4 Miles 1441
Thursday: 8 Miles + PM Cycle
Friday: 5 Miles 1441
Saturday: 20.5 Miles @ 7:50 pace! See below splits.

Image 1: 4 AM Pre Run
Image 2: 7:30 AM Post Run HAPPY!
Image 3: 20.5 Splits

Goals

Abs?

I think my abs are finally coming back!!!!

8 more pounds to go!!!

It's like the night before Christmas

Lately I have been so excited about waking up to run that i can't sleep, it's like the feeling as a child the night before Christmas!

94*'s + 7 Miles

Since I was off today for Labor Day and didn't have any plans, I quickly became bored. I didn't want to go party and drink all day, so at 5:00pm I decided to go for a 7 mile run.

It is Florida

It is September

5:00 is HOT

94* along a path with NO shade.

I think I lost my mind!

Well I ended up being very surprised with my run. I wanted to do 5 second cut downs on all the miles, but when I started out and realized how blazing hot it was I re considered my plan and though easy was as good as anything.

It ended up being 7 miles at 8:14 pace and on the second half I did do the cut downs. I started with 8:25's and my last mile was 8:00!!

Now, I also did 1441 this morning AND did a 5 mile speed walk with my mom.

Usually when I run it is at 5:30 am when the humidity is at its highest point (90%+). It is extremely hard to breath when it is humid and the amount of sweat that pours out of your body is usually about 2 pounds worth!

Even though it was so brutally hot, I think the lack of humidity made the run easier.

TRUST

I realized this week, that I have put 100% trust into my training plan. It isn't the same training that I did pre injuries.

This time around I am constantly pushing my body in ways that I never have before. My attitude before was log all the miles as possible and you will get faster. That method did work for me and I loved it, my paces were always fast and I always felt confident. But then I got INJURED... twice.

I am averaging about 40-43 miles per week with 2-3 2 hour strength and conditioning classes, spin once a week and occasional swimming and biking.

All of the different training usually leaves me fatigued during my runs, causing my paces to be slower and my breathing pretty winded. There are days where I just want to give up on everything but running, because for 2 weeks when I did do that my runs were so easy and faster.

I am putting every ounce of trust into my training and NOT giving up on all these extra's because the people I am taking advice from say that once I hit taper my body will get the rest and then come race day I will be STRONG and ready to rock the marathon.

As the weeks go by my long runs are getting better and I am feeling more and more confident. I did 17 miles yesterday and it was awesome. I did all the miles alone and I felt strong (I actually almost went for 18 + but decided against it once my watch hit 17).  It ended up being 8:22 avg pace with less than 10 minutes of stops for water and one bathroom stop.

After the 17 miles I grabbed a quick protein smoothy and headed to Saturday Smack down at Sand Key which included:

 20 minutes of bridge sprints to recover, kettle bell dead-lifts & squat jumps, burpies, manual resistance, kettle bell snatch, step ups with quick feet (prisoner style), 500 push ups & 500 sit ups with sprints in between. Open water swim.