I thought last week end was busy

Well since we can't do anything like everyone this is what my Saturday looked like and what our Sunday will look like...

Saturday:

• Up at 5:40am to get ready for a half-marathon
• 6:15am friend to pick me to go to the half (to be taxied around is awesome)
• 7:30am start a half marathon with some 128 women (yes you are reading properly this is less than my wave at the US Women triathlon) It was awesome to be at a small race.

My goals for this race were in this order: 1) Have FUN 2) Have a sustained race but don't feel sick (notice the no time/pace goal)

• 2:08:44 cross the finish line STOKED because not only did I have a lot of FUN, I felt great the first 9M then well I felt tired and so slowed down to a more manageable pace to keep the race fun but challenging, I gave it all I had and I PRed by 3min! It was a 9:50 min/mile overall. Mind you the course was flat I mean flat not like Carlsbad flat.
• 11:30am brunch at the beach grass
• 12:30am not feeling good at all (stomach yelling at me for attention)
• 1:30 relaxed and showered
• 2 pm UTC to get MAC some stuff for his costume, he has a play for president's day celebration and needed some stuff.
• Picked up my mountain bike
• Grocery shopping
• 4:45pm writing my blog waiting for the kids to come home from the air show they went to in Coronado!
• Play with the kids
• Clean up the kitchen
• Prepare pre-race dinner for B
• Go to bed and read!

Sunday:

• Play cook pancakes probably with the kids while B is huffing and puffing during the San Dieguito Half marathon.
• Sand the bookshelf and put the stain.
• Feed the beast upon return
• Take the kiddos to a birthday party
• Relax for a bit put the second coat of stain
• Go to dinner at some friends house
• Go to bed

Pfff what a week end... Next week end will be more relaxing I promise you we have family over that should slow us down a bit! But wait do you remember Black Beauty is home and ready to go, stay tune for some scratches and bruises report next week.

Have a great evening everyone!

Proud ???

So for this new year I decided to leave my bad brain somewhere in the dust... I decided to accept what my body gives me, it is hard though. Anyhow my training since last February is paying off not really how I imagined but is it ever.

First of all having a coach has made me increase my workout volume. I used to pull a 4H00 training/week maybe 5h00 on a good week. Now a good week looks more like 8H00. I was never able to run back to back. Now I do it routinely! I hated hills well I'm still huffing and puffing but at least they don't scare me as much. My easy runs were 30min now they are 1h00. I can run 2H00 any given sunday!

So I should be proud but well it is always hard to be stoked to run 10M in 2H00 when B can cover 14M in the same amount of time.

I don't know what Carlsbad will bring and I don't really care... These are my goals:

1- I'm having a great race would be close to 2:00

2- I'm having a good race would be between 2:10 and 2:05

3- I'm having an ok race would be whatever

However the main goal for this race is to cross that finish line with a big smile on my face and be proud of what I've accomplished no matter the pace!

So since this is 2011 I am proud that I ran 2H00 after a not so great 3 weeks training! I am so proud to not pull out of the race. So now onto sushi!

Running running running...

So I have started my crazy running regimen, crazy for me I mean!
My workout schedule now looks like Mon: strength training with running drills, Tue: 45min run usually hill workout or tempo, Wed: 45 min run of tempo intervals, Thurs 45min Bike workout like a spin class, Fri speed intervals, sat 2:00 run, Sun 1:30 bike easy spin.

So anyways I can tell you my legs are tired but Im two weeks in and I did 90% of the workouts, This week very busy work schedule shorten two runs and zapped the bike workout but that's life.
I'm slow there is no denying it but hey I'm still putting my running shoes and go for my runs. It is not always easy, last weeks two hour run was a piece candy hard but sweet today's was more like Brussels sprout healthy but not too tempting!
Maybe the route was a bit more enticing last week. I ran from my house in Carmel Valley to Solana Beach. most of it done on the beach! It was ejust beautiful! today well a bit more hilly and hotter and well not as nice.
Enough rambling on my runs!

Change is in the air

So it is 9pm, dinner has been eaten as a family, kitchen is somewhat cleaned, my strength training somewhat done and I am ready for some stretching and reading in bed!
We have decided to start having dinner with the kids. It will take some time to figure out the proper routine. So tonight was a wee bit off but I'm sure we will get the hang of it.
On the workout front, since triathlon season is done! This year I realized that you have to be a good runner to be a good triathlete and so I decided to focus on running. This means about 4-6H00 of running per week!
When I saw my new schedule I gasped! 45min speed workout on Friday which means 5x3min all out 3min easy. 2h00 easy run on Saturday and 1h30 tempo intervals on Sunday... Challenging!
Saturday for my long run since B had to go to Encinitas to buy new shoes I decided to run to Solana Beach. Meet him and the kids there go to Encinitas then he would run home. I did it and it was one of my most awesome run. Mostly on the beach at a comfortable pace 11:45-12 min/mile.
Sunday I only had time for 1h00. Today though my legs were tired so now time for stretching and foam roller!

Gotta post

Arghhh it has been sooo long since my last post and so much happened since then that I don't know how to tackle it. I decided to get back in the groove by posting a short post on the current thoughts.
1- What is wrong with the weather??? I mean it is great and all to be able to walk around in shorts and tank top in mid january but I'm running the half marathon in Carlsbad in 13 days and I don't do well when it is hot!!!!
2- Speaking of the Carlsbad half I'm slightly anxious since I didn't run as much during the holiday break. Not because I was lazy but because I had a bronchitis and a start of a stomach flu!!! I ran twice since I got back on wednesday evening a 3 mile run with Jess on Friday which went very well. Then the next day saturday, I attempted a longer run on Saturday. That was an absolute catastrophie since I gave up at mile 1.5! I just could not run. Probably a combination of the Santa Ana winds, my body not being used to run at 76F when it got used to run at 30F , maybe some jetlag ;) So I am shooting for an easy 20 min on the treadmill tomorrow, a 4-5 miles on tuesday a 5-6 on thursday and a longer run next week end 7-10. Then two easy 3-4 miler during the week. Then we will see, at least I can say I did what I could, I don't feel like I slaked off so be it!
3- On a totally different subject, the low interest rate for mortgage threw us in a whirlpool of thoughts and ideas. One of which is to refinance our current house. It is really nice but also we know that we won't stay there forever unless something bad happens we are ready to move out in the next 5 years. The other is to look at other options in the same neighborhood. We have a house in sight so we will see what happens.
4- Lastly I don't know what happened over the holiday probably our constant activity and the good but somewhat lighter food from my mom but I dropped 2-3lbs. We will see if I can keep it off and maybe drop a little more.
5- Last but not least I delivered Jessica's flowers. From the compliments I believe that I came through. I am very very glad that I was able to bring my personal touch to this beautiful wedding. I am also very thankful for Jessica to take up an offer from someone she barely knew. This is something that I waited for for a while. I will post in more details on the day leading to the wedding with pictures and all.

Hmmm

Earlier tonight I had a great subject for my post. Something different from running, complaining about my weight! But of course since then we had dinner, a little wine, watched TV fell asleep in front of the TV and now all I can think of for my post is how hard my run was at lunch.
Today was 5 miles tempo run, of course today it was warm even a little hot around 75-80 degrees Fahrenheit and no cool breeze. I started great, felt good. I was following a guy who seemed upset that I was so close behind him but unfortunately it made me go at a fairly fast pace of 8:30-9:30 min/miles. Of course at miles 3 I died, well my legs died. The last 2 miles were run 1.5-1.75 and walk 0.25 miles. Ah well can't be good every time ;) I will download the data from my Garmin GPS tracking device.
Other than that my pants got here and I fit in them. A few pounds less will be better but at least I don't look like a saussage and that was 80$ well spent. I of course have to hem them.
Tonight I was lazy again and instead of cooking lasagnas like I planned to we made an easy meal of raviolis and brocolini.
I finished the back of Maia's sweater I think she will be able to wear it for a couple years!
This is the end of a very dry and boring post!

Running aftermath (continued...)

After my post-running traumatizing experience I decided to do a little research on the internet and it appears that my post running nausea is due to either dehydration or "water intoxication". Both issues have the similar symptoms and both have similar remedy drink 16oz sports drink 1 hour before running and again drink plenty of sports drink after a run especially if the run is more than 1 hour long!.

This makes total sense since besides coffee and wine my only other beverage is water! Sports drink here I come....

Also yesterday after recovering from my sickness I IMed Jessica who told me eat a lot. I confessed that I felt like going to bed without ingesting any food but promise to eat. But I have to admit that I don't think 8 potstickers and some yogurt was what she had in mind in the lots of food department!
Tonight's menu which I have yet to prepare is ahi tuna, stir fry veggies and somen noodles. Since I am hungry and things don't seem to get done by themselves I will have to end this passionating post and get busy!

Lazy me...

Today I could have gone for a 4 mile run with Jessica but of course I still haven't recovered from the locker clean up. What do you mean.... well they warned us that they will clean up the locker room at the gym during the week end and they would throw away everything that was there. Of course I completely forgot to retrieve my belongings so when I strolled in on tuesday to change for my run I realized that I didn't have a towel nor deodorant nor soap.... I still ran and took a shower but toweled with the shirt I ran in.

Today we were supposed to go replace 6 of our 8 tires today but of course we need an appointment so that it could be done during lunch time... So here I am no errands and a planned run... But no I didn't feel like toweling with my shirt again and since I didn't have lunch I basically wimped out of my run ;( But then as I was driving back from Rubios with my two steak tacos with chipotle sauce on the side my new favorite I saw Jessica running and felt like a big slob!!!! I will resume my workout next week... Monday tires hehehe Tuesday run Wednesday Yoga Thursday break/run Friday run/break

But before that I will pack a clean towel and all the needed attire to go for a short run tomorrow ; )

Yoga & Running

I know I know for those of you who know me I've always said that yoga was too slow for me. Moreover since I'm not really flexible I don't really like stretching.
My friend Jessica who has been a total motivation in the exercise department lately has been dragging me to the yoga classes that we have onsite at work.
I am getting addicted. It is a more strenuous form of yoga and I can see myself getting addicted to power yoga.... Anyways I have been enjoying pushing myself and I hope to be able to continue yoga and get better at it. My goals are to be able to synchronize my breathing better with the movements and to work on the following poses: Crow and headstand ultimately I would like to be able to do a forearm stand and a peacock.... that's just because I would love to solve the problems caused by my scatter brain hehehe.

This week was a slow running week. Maia didn't sleep well the night of monday through tuesday hence we had a really rough night and on tuesday I just didn't feel like running. I went to yoga instead. On wednesday I ran a little over 3 miles on the treadmill at a good 6.1 m/h pace playing with speed a little, thursday I went to yoga again and Friday I slacked off.
Today I didn't really feel like running but I knew I had to so I put my sneakers on and went for a run I didn't feel too bad so I tried a new route and my goal was to run about 4 miles and I DID IT!!!! I have a great 4.7 miles run at a 10 min/mile pace!!!!! I didn't stop to walk I had to wait very little for red lights.
The only thing is that my shoes were probably tied a little tight and my left knee bugged me.... I hope I can solve this by stretching.

Although my mileage this week isn't as good as my previous week it is the first time I run more than 3 miles outdoor and feel great!!!!! and I only ran twice... Next week will also be a slow week since we are going to Montana

However now I feel really tired and I am going to crash! Poor Bryan....

Tuesday lunch run

Today we went for a 3 mile run outside at lunch. It was a nice run and it went better than I expected... I didn't stop ;) I ran with two other co-workers and it was fun and motivating. Bryan gave me for christmas a Garmin GPS watch thingy to keep me motivated and I love this little toy. I can't wait to be at a level where running an hour on a trails won't be synonym of death penalty ;) It yells at me when I go too fast or too slow it tells me when I hit the 1 miles mark etc... If you want details on our loop Click Here The few times we stopped were for the lights... just in case you were wondering. Why do I run? I like it I know I'm a bit crazy but I do, I haven't been as consistent as I wished I'd been for the last 9 years but hey I try. I had to adapt and go run at lunch... I have some goals concerning running that I would like to share with you that way you can throw them back at me I want: - to train regularly so 5-6 miles isn't impossible but just a run - try to lose those naggy 9 lbs and get back to my happy weight of 110 lbs for the summer. - to run a half marathon before I'm 35 I'm shooting for the Carlsbad half marathon next january don't forget to throw that one back at me on Dec 30th 2009!!! - to participate in a triathlon in my life... for this one you'll have to come at my death bed ;) My friend Jessica is training for the La Jolla half and although I won't be joinging her in the race I will train with her the days we run together. She picked up this training schedule from the runners world website I believe and it looks doable although I'm not too sure about the 8 miles run at lunch. Week 1:
Tuesday : 4x 400 intervals Thursday: 3 mile tempo run Sat/Sun : 6 mile long run Week 2:
Tuesday : 4x800 intervals Thursday: 4 mile tempo run Sat/Sun : 8 miles Week 3:
Tuesday : 4x1600 intervals Thursday: 5 mile tempo run Sat/Sun : 10 miles Week 4:
Tuesday : 6x400 intervals Thursday: 6 mile tempo run Sat/Sun : 6 miles Week 5:
Tuesday : 3x1600intervals Thursday: 4 mile tempo run Sat/Sun : 10 miles Week 6:
Tuesday : 4x800 intervals Thursday: 8 mile tempo run Sat/Sun : 8 miles Week 7:
Tuesday : 6x400 intervals Thursday: 6 mile tempo run Sat/Sun : 10 miles Week 8:
Tuesday : 4x1600 intervals Thursday: 8 mile tempo run Sat/Sun : 12 miles Week 9:
Tuesday : 3x800 intervals Thursday: 4 mile tempo run Sat/Sun : 6 miles Week 10:
Tuesday : 4x400 intervals Thursday: 2 mile tempo run Sat/Sun : Race Anyways I just ate back all the benefits of this run so much for goal nb 1 at PF Chang's tonight. On this note I'm gonna crash because Yoga and Running are kicking my butt. I just discovered Yoga and I'm already falling in love but that will be the subject of a whole new post.