Sunday, April 30, 2017

See Ya April (WW # 91)

Welcome to the Weekly Wrap!

https://hohoruns.blogspot.com/p/weekly-wrap.html
This link was created to support active women.  
JOIN IN!  Click HERE  to see complete rules.

Tricia and I are thrilled you have chosen to link with us on the Weekly Wrap.  If you link early, please make sure you come back later in the week and check some of the other posts.  Our simple tip to the newcomers for making this linkup work for you:  the more you interact with others, the more they will interact with you.  We hope you'll find the connections, support and motivation you've been searching for right here!

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RECAP:

Strength
T   Ran 4 Miles (Progressive)
Cycled 20 Miles 
T   Strength
F   Ran 5 Miles
S   Ran 8 Miles
S   Ran 3.5 Miles

Total Ran = 20.5 Miles
Total Cycled = 20 Miles 

I feel pretty good about my final week of effort before the Door County Half Marathon.  Recently returning to running after injury, I've been in a rebuilding stage.  I think my endurance is there.  My speed?  It needs more work.   Or perhaps just more time.   And perfect weather.  An easy course would be nice too.  Well...it needs a lot.


Tuesday's Mail Box Greetings

I got a decent cross training session on the bike trainer while watching Survivor Wednesday evening. {Up until now I've been cycling watching Sun Records.  Anybody else addicted?}  I'm really loving the comfort of the new Blink 3.0 I received as part of my ambassadorship with Heart Zones.  If you are a chest strap wearer, you would adore the Blink.  It is worn on your forearm and you will not even know it is there. My stats for this easy 20 mile ride:  Time: 66:52  Speed: 17.9  Blink HR: 134  Garmin HR: 136.  A solid effort in my BLUE zone. 

https://heartzones.com/heart-rate-training/zoning/
If you are confused about heart rate training check out this link.
Heart Zones does a great job of explaining the different zones.

 I also found a nifty calculator for determining my specific zones. 

Taking advantage of the shade in the park!

I had to rearrange my morning runs due to mid week storms.   Friday morning's run was a steamy, swampy mess.  I took it slow (seriously -- no other choice) and got it done.  Regarding heart rate training, these conditions make it extremely challenging stay in my YELLOW zone and out of the RED.  Blink: 156  Garmin: 158.  Sadly, my weekend runs were a repeat of the same stickiness.   So yeah, no last ditch effort to work on speed.  I did choose my hilliest route on Saturday which is a challenge in itself.  With the humidity?  Ugh.  Just stick a fork in me...


A beautiful April sunset from the Florida panhandle!

As April comes to a close, I'm as ready as I can be for my upcoming half marathon.  I hear from my friend Wendy this will be a hilly course.  However, the weather is shaping up to be a sunny, clear, and breathable mid 40's.  Regardless, I look forward to visiting the scenic Door County peninsula in Wisconsin and banging out half # 45 with my #holotta partner in crime.

And that's a wrap!


There was so many races this weekend!  Did you race?

What are you currently training for?

Do you know your Heart Zones?

Sunday, April 23, 2017

It Is What It Is (WW # 90)

Welcome to the Weekly Wrap!

https://hohoruns.blogspot.com/p/weekly-wrap.html
This link was created to support active women.  
JOIN IN!  Click HERE  to see complete rules.

Tricia and I are thrilled you have chosen to link with us on the Weekly Wrap.  If you link early, please make sure you come back later in the week and check some of the other posts.  Our simple tip to the newcomers for making this linkup work for you:  the more you interact with others, the more they will interact with you.  We hope you'll find the connections, support and motivation you've been searching for right here!

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RECAP:

Strength
T   Ran 3.25 Miles (Easy)
Nothing!
T   Ran 4.50 Miles (Tempo) + Strength
F   Nothing!
S   Ran 13 Miles (Slow)
S   Ran 6.25 Miles (Recovery)

Total = 27 Miles

In 12 days, I will line up to run my first half marathon of the year.  Wow -- what a difference from my obsessive Half Fanaticism of years gone by.  It will be my 45th half.  A mere seven weeks ago, I was not running due to injury.  Again.  You'd better believe I cycled through it like a crazy old woman to maintain my cardio fitness.  But the harsh reality is, there hasn't been enough time to properly prepare for this race. Throw in a couple of vacations and -- It Is What It Is.   I certainly wasn't going to pass on the opportunity to run in beautiful Door County Wisconsin (a new state!) with my dear friend Wendy. #HoLottaFun  #HoLottaCheese


Did that sound gloomy?  That wasn't the intention.  I'm excited to be back racing the distance I love most.  In fact, I am grateful to be running at all.  Any distance.  Any speed.   If neither of my feet speak to me while running, it's a flat out victory!  So grateful, I am.  (ala Yoda).   It's all about perspective. After two humbling foot injuries in a short span of time, it is not so much about the numbers.  The simple ability to run is now appreciated first and foremost.  The rest?  Delicious gravy. 

A sweaty mascara mess after a tempo run in new SMDS gear.

The previous week was a super active week for me.  With 27 miles running, 20 miles cycling, strength exercises AND water skiing, I started off this week...spent...and with a sore left hamstring.  So my RECAP reports two days of full rest and no cycling.  It Is What It Is.  {Try it, people.  It's liberating!}


www.heartzones.com


In other news, I've been testing the Blink 3.0 Heart Rate, Step and Cadence sensor as part of my new ambassadorship with Heart Zones.  You can see it on my forearm in the picture above.  I want to use it for a while, and also for different activities, before doing a full review.  I can already report it is very comfy and syncs with a host of fitness apps.  I'll be talking more about it, as well as heart rate training, in future posts. 

Glad to be done with 13 miles!  It was my longest run since January.

I opted to run long on Saturday morning due to Sunday's rainy forecast.  Blech, was it warm and humid or what?  I repeated the hilliest loops in my neighborhood to prepare for Door County.   I felt strong through mile 9 and then....yeah, not so much.  It Is What Is It.  {OK OK -- I'll stop now!} 

After the rain moved through Sunday, I went out intending to run just a few recovery miles.  Running at a low heart rate (149 per Blink, 158 per Garmin) and ignoring my pace felt fantastic.  Maybe it was the product of my recently adopted IIWII attitude -- but whatever the case, I did not want to stop.  I made myself quit at 6.25 miles.  

I'll leave you with this deep thought (LOL):  It'd be really special to get rewarded with a little gravy.   But if not, I'm happy with the biscuit.

And that's a wrap! 


Do you track your heart rate?  If yes, what type of monitor do you use?

Do you run using a smart phone app?  If yes, which one?

Sunday, April 16, 2017

Water Therapy (WW # 89)

Welcome to the Weekly Wrap!

https://hohoruns.blogspot.com/p/weekly-wrap.html
This link was created to support active women.  
JOIN IN!  Click HERE  to see complete rules.

Tricia and I are thrilled you have chosen to link with us on the Weekly Wrap.  If you link early, please make sure you come back later in the week and check some of the other posts.  Our simple tip to the newcomers for making this linkup work for you:  the more you interact with others, the more they will interact with you.  We hope you'll find the connections, support and motivation you've been searching for right here!

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RECAP:

Ran 4 Miles (Easy)
T   Ran 7 Miles (Easy)
Strength
T   Cycled 20 Miles
F   Ran 4 Miles (Tempo)
S   Water Skied
S   Ran 12 Miles (Slow)

 Total Ran      27 Miles
 Total Cycled  20 Miles


I make no secret of my love of water (and being outside in the sunshine).  WATER.  Around it.  In it. Under it.  On it.  Beside it.  You get my drift.  It.is.good.for.my.soul.  This week I can say I got my fill. My week began in Florida where the weather was ideal, making my morning Gulf side runs so enjoyable.  It ended on our favorite local lake.  Whoot...I water skied on Easter Weekend -- a record early start.  It was cold. I'm not complaining.   And, leave it to me to put my wet suit on inside out.  So I just rocked it that way!

I know everyone's busy enjoying time with their families (myself included) so I'll just do the quick down and dirty picture version of my Weekly Wrap.  

JUST...WOW!

Silly mailbox greetings from Florida!

Dinner with a view!
 
Attempting some much needed speed work

My inside out wet suit still did the job!

This 12 miler was a struggle...but I finished.
 
And that's a wrap!


Tell me something you find good for your soul!



Sunday, April 9, 2017

Beaching (WW # 88)

Welcome to the Weekly Wrap!

https://hohoruns.blogspot.com/p/weekly-wrap.html
This link was created to support active women.  
JOIN IN!  Click HERE  to see complete rules.

Tricia and I are thrilled you have chosen to link with us on the Weekly Wrap.  If you link early, please make sure you come back later in the week and check some of the other posts.  Our simple tip to the newcomers for making this linkup work for you:  the more you interact with others, the more they will interact with you.  We hope you'll find the connections, support and motivation you've been searching for right here!

**********************************************************

RECAP:

Strength
T   Ran 5 Miles Easy
Cycled 15 Miles
T   Ran 4 Miles Easy
F   Rest
S   Ran 6 (Coach Post 10k)
S   Strength



Greetings from the sunny emerald coast of the Florida panhandle!

Sunday's view.


This past week was a planned low mileage week after hitting a double digit long run last week.  As soon as I found out I'd be coastal this weekend, I immediately looked for races in the area.   Eureka!  I found the Coach Post 5k/10k inside beautiful St. Andrews State Park.  My sister planned to run this race with me but, due to flight complications, sadly did not arrive on time.

Ariel view of St. Andrews


It was 54 degrees with low humidity when I arrived at St. Andrews on race morning.  No complaints there.  With only 15 minutes to spare, I quickly picked up our packets and darted back to the start line.  I decided I'd start out at half marathon pace and then speed up for the last two or three miles.  The course was flat and wound through the scenic park and at-capacity campground.  The first three miles went as planned. Nice and slow.  Unfortunately, I was never able to pick up the pace like I wanted.  By mile four, I was quickly tiring and just tried to hang on. 
 
It was windy...as evidenced by my hair!

The best thing about this race is: I forgot to think about my foot.  Those of you who've had injuries can probably relate.  It is a big milestone to not give a second's thought to the one thing that's preoccupied your mind for months on end.   I also had no soreness afterwards which is a huge relief.  I'm calling it now...over.

Although I was slower than I wanted, it was enough for this small 10k (most people ran in the 5k).  I placed first in my age group.  I am very appreciative of the award but also know I have a lot of work ahead of me with upcoming half marathons in May and June.  There were several vendors and nice post race festivities including music, massages and delicious pasta and Italian bread from the Salt Water Grill.  Overall, I was happily impressed by the race direction.
 

No filter!
So, it will be back to work this week with another double digit long run and some much needed speed work.  And, maybe another run or two along the beach before heading home. 

And that's a wrap!


Do you look for races when your travel?

Would you eat pasta at 9:00 in the morning?



Sunday, April 2, 2017

Back to Work (WW # 87)

Welcome to the Weekly Wrap!

https://hohoruns.blogspot.com/p/weekly-wrap.html
This link was created to support active women.  
JOIN IN!  Click HERE  to see complete rules.


Tricia and I are thrilled that we had a record number of linkers last week on the Weekly Wrap.  If you link early, please make sure you come back later in the week and check some of the other posts.  Here's a simple tip to the newcomers for making this linkup work for you:  the more you interact with others, the more they will interact with you.  We hope you'll find the connections, support and motivation you've been searching for!

**********************************************************


RECAP:

Mon  Ran 2 Miles
Tues  Ran 4 Miles
Wed  Cycled 15 Miles
Thu   Strength
Fri     Ran 5 Miles
Sat    Rest
Sun    Ran 10 Miles

Total Cycled = 15
Total Ran = 21


After spending three days trying to get home from Colorado (including being stranded on the interstate by a snow storm) we finally made it home late Sunday night.  I was itching for a run after sitting, and in my mind "resting", for so long.  Monday morning's run felt horrible and I bailed after two miles.  I tried it again the next day and it felt better, but my foot was sore the next day.  Although I've been told the soreness is normal, I was very discouraged as I had run an eight miler the previous week with no soreness at all.

Hey-ay!      I just ran 5 miles!

What's a gal to do?  Just keep plugging away.  After a cross training day of cycling and then a cardio rest day with strength exercises only, I tried running again Friday morning.  This time my sunrise five miler felt great.  I was able to run progressively faster each mile and I had no soreness afterward.

Friday was our youngest son's 17th birthday.  We all met for dinner at Firebird's.  He requested a homemade Red Velvet Cake and I obliged.  Sorry no picture, but it was delicious...if I say so myself.

I'll admit to be a little blue about missing Saturday's half marathon in a neighboring town.  But, getting to watch my grandson hit two homers (one was a grand slam!) and two triples in his baseball game lifted my spirits immensely.  Plus, it was a gorgeous sunny day to be outside.  I did a little yard work in the afternoon and we capped off the day at our favorite Mexican restaurant.



After using March as a rebuilding month, it was time to get back to work.  I have the hilly Door County Half in May with my dear friend Wendy and the downhill Utah Valley Half in June with several blogger friends who link right here.  [There's still time to join in on the fun.  Use my discount code hoho15 to receive 15% off.]  I suspect both of those races will be a HoLottaFun.  Anyway, I felt I needed to return to double digits.  I slept late and didn't hit the pavement until 8:30 which made for a very warm run, especially toward the end.   I was slow and my heart rate was higher than I wanted, but it felt good to get back to work. 

I included hills during this 10 miler.     Look at the green trees!

Next weekend I'll be at the beach where I'm running a 10k with my sister.  The 10k has always been my least favorite distance.  I can never pace them properly.  But who knows, maybe this scenic race at St. Andrews State Park will change my mind!  I'm certainly open to the possibility. 


 And that's a wrap!


A lot of ladies were racing this weekend!  Did you?

What are you training for right now?

Did you have fantastic weekend weather?