Weekly Wrap (Weekly Wrap-up Edition)

I keep thinking that each week will be a little less crazy then the one before and I am just wrong about it.  It's fine, I just don't seem to be getting things done like I need to, like getting blog posts written.  One day I'll get ahead of it and not behind. :)

I had 4 miles planned on Monday, but I swapped it out for my rest day on Wednesday because it was very cold out and raining all morning.  I don't mind running in the rain, but not when it's cold out as well.  It was fine as I felt bad all day long.  I had a sore throat and just felt like crap all day long.  I thought I was getting something that a co-worker brought into the office.  I took NyQuil and went to bed early.

Tuesday I woke up feeling much better, though not 100%.  I still didn't have a fever, so I headed off to the gym.  The week before we were told that the gym class that I have been going to for over 5 years was being cancelled at the end of February.  We had plans to have the manager of the gym come talk to us on Thursday.  Everyone was very upset by this news.

Wednesday I went out for a 4 mile run.  It was another run that was below 20 degrees.  I wore my new fleece face mask and it kept my face warm the whole time.  It was a bit warm towards the end, but I didn't mind.  I'd rather be too warm then too cold. The Super Blue Blood Moon was out for the start of my run.  I tried to get pictures of it, but there was a lot of clouds out.



I also saw a very beautiful sunrise through the last couple miles of my run.



We had a lunch planned for the team at work.  This was the first time we did anything social as a group since I started.  It was nice to get to know some of my co-workers some outside of work.

Thursday I headed to the gym, knowing that we were going to have to really make them understand how important the class was to everyone.  The class has been happening at this same gym for almost 18 years.  There are people in the class that have been taking it for over 10 years.  One person had been taking it for 15.  That tells you how much of a family this class is.  Half way through the class the gym manager as well as the class coordinator came up for a few minutes.  They insisted that this was not the right place to discuss the details, but our class would move down to the Strive area (where they have machine weights and aerobic equipment in a circle and you do them as stations, rotating aerobic and weights to get the high interval training in).  We were not happy about that idea so after class a few of us stopped by their office to discuss further.  Basically they consider this class to be a "personal training" class.  None of us were sure what was meant by that, but I have always seen it more like a boot camp type of class.  They said that because sometimes we use stations, where we don't do the same movements at the same time, it's not to their standards.  Basically we are not a per-choreographed class that they pay money for.  They are trying to offer different classes for us to try on Monday and Wednesday, but currently we have been banished to the Strive area.  They are fine for the room to be empty and no one use it on Tuesday and Thursday.

I did another 4 mile run on Friday morning.  I waited a little later to start my run to have the rain finish and I seemed to time it perfectly.  It actually was a bit warmer out and I didn't have to wear the layers I have been wearing.  It's gotten to the point that it feels odd not having several layers on for a run.

Friday night I went to see Finding Neverland.  I knew I had seen the movie before, but the movie was so unremarkable to me that I actually mixed it up with Hook in my head.  When the play started I realized that it wasn't Hook, but I do vaguely remember seeing the movie.   I have to say, the play was amazing.  Something I won't remember if I've seen before or not.  The music and choreograph were a lot of fun.  And there were some amazing voices.  I highly recommend that one.

Saturday was another cold morning.  I had 10 miles on the schedule and a lot to do that day so I couldn't wait till later in the morning when it warmed up a little to get it done.  At the start of the run it was only 14 degrees.  I knew that it would be above 20 the second half of the run, so I didn't wear my fleece face mask as I wanted some flexibility.  I wore just my buff which is just a thin cloth that I can put over my nose and mouth.  I haven't done 10 miles since my last half marathon in April, so it was interesting to see how I felt.  By the end of the run I didn't feel fatigued, but really I was just tired of being cold.  I ran for a little over 2 hours and it didn't get warmer then 26 degrees.  I actually saw someone out running that didn't even have a hat on.  That I didn't understand at all.  All I could think about on the way home was taking a hot shower.

That afternoon I was invited over to a neighbor's house for lunch.  I got cleaned up and stretched and rolled and headed over there.  They are an older Indian couple have lived there about 4 years longer then I have.  And in all of this time, we have never really done anything together.  She invited one of her friends and while her husband went to pray, us girls had a great lunch.  She cooked up all this delicious Indian food and I can't remember what anything was called, but it was all amazing.

I then went out to dinner with a friend of mine (glad I ran 10 miles with all this food).  He isn't sure if he is being laid off or not as there were two meetings, one for those being let go and one for those who weren't - and he was not invited to either.  And two days later no one can give him an answer.  But he was actually in a good mood so we had fun catching up.

Sunday was a very lazy day for me.  It worked out as it rained all day long.  I got a few things done around the house, but not as much as I wish I had.  But it was nice to relax.

How was your week?  Have you seen Finding Neverland (either the play or movie)? Did you see the Super Blue Blood Moon?

Linking up with Holly and Tricia's Weekly Wrap Up.

Weekly Update (Weekly Wrap-up Edition)

I don't feel like this was a busy week, but it sure did fly by.  I can't believe we are in the last week of September already.

Monday I was going to get a run in, but as the evening progressed and I wasn't even tired, I knew that getting up early was not going to happen.  Usually I'm so tired by 9 PM that going to bed isn't very hard.  But Sunday night it was close to two before I started getting tired, so I didn't even set my alarm to run.  And it gave me an extra day to rest my quad.

Tuesday I went to FT.  Through the class my quad wasn't hurting, but it was talking to me.  But by the time the class was done and throughout the day it was feeling much better.  Sometimes it just gets to a point where you need to get it moving and warm for it to get that final kick into feeling better.

Wednesday I did get out for a run.  I decided to up my 2 1/2 miles to my 3 mile loop.  My IT Band felt tight, but the quad didn't act up.  The funny thing is on this run, I didn't see a single person out. Even though my runs are really early, I usually see some people out walking their dogs.  I just thought it was very weird.  The sun was just poking it's head out as I finished the run.  I think I saw a planet.  I know a few are visible during the sunrise to the naked eye.


Thursday was my normal FT class.  Everything was starting to feel normal.  I think all the stretching and rolling I had been doing in the past week really was paying off.  Though my shoulders really needed some help.  So I took my bumpy lacrosse ball to it which helped those knots.

Friday was another 3 mile run.  This one felt hard.  I don't think it was any warmer then normal.  I just think it was one of those hard runs that we all have every now and again.  I was also messing with my new AirPods, which I'm having issues connecting to my iPod.  So I connected them to my phone and listened to music that way.  I just don't have a good running playlist so I had to fast forward through the slower songs, which is not as easy as it is with an iPod.


As I was getting to my door to unlock it, something moved and startled me.  It turns out it was this little guy.  Over the years I have seen one or two of these frogs each year, but I haven't seen one in years.  I think he is adorable and I hope he stays safe.


Saturday I had my first "race" since my triathlon in June.  I put quotes around it as I don't think it's a real race as it's one of those fad races.  This one is a 5k with bubbles.  It was The Bubble Run.  I really didn't want to do this race as I just wasn't in the mood for it, but in the end it was fun.  I'll have a recap of it up tomorrow.


I spent the rest of Saturday trying to set up a new wi-fi router.  I thought it was something I could do as I understood most of the directions.  But it really was I understood enough to make a mess of it.  Thankfully I had an old Verizon router to use.  My friend who is in networking will be helping me set it up next weekend.  Let's hope he can fix it. :)

How was your week?  Did you get in all of the runs that you had scheduled?  Do you find that a good stretching routine can help in the long run?

Linking up with Holly and Tricia's Weekly Wrap Up.

Weekly Update (Weekly Wrap-up Edition)

This was a busy week for me, especially in the work out realm.

Monday I really didn't have anything planned on my calendar.  I had two good bike rides over the weekend and I really needed to give my legs a rest.  I could tell during my stretching and rolling that my quads and glutes needed extra attention with a couple of knots in them.

Tuesday I went to my regular FT class.

Wednesday I actually went for a run.  This was the first time I had in 2 1/2 months.  I know my relay partners are saying "Finally!"  I did 2 1/2 easy miles before work.  I kept it light and did a 30:30 walk run.  I didn't push myself and I didn't slack off and walk any extra.  It was good.  I kept thinking my run time was set to 15 seconds instead of 30, so that's probably a good sign.

Thursday I went to my regular FT class before work.  The gym at my job offers classes to take as well.  I have taken a couple over the last month and they added a new one on Thursdays.  It's a Core Blast class.  Basically 30 minutes of nothing but abs.  The class lasted about 25 minutes and I felt it as we engaged our abs and lower back the whole time.  While we were doing some leg lifts the knot in my quad from Monday started to cramp.  Oww!  I didn't feel soar after (not even my quad), but I know it was a good workout.  My core is something that always needs to be worked on.

Friday I went on a second run for the second time.  I did the same mileage and run/walk times from Wednesday.  My IT band was a little tight, but nothing that is no different from when it bothers me before so I wasn't worried about it.  I did notice that both these runs were not any slower then what I had done last summer when I was heart rate training.  So I really don't think I've lost too much taking the break over the summer.  There was a beautiful moon out shining through the clouds.  It's just weird getting a whole run in before there is any hint of the sun to come up.
 
I had decided to do the TRX class again at the gym at work.  I had enjoyed it the first time I took it as I feel it really worked my core.  While it was still a fun class, I don't feel my abs like I did after the first class.  So I probably will try to take one of the two classes a week to make sure I get some extra core work in.  My quad was bothering me a bit during this class.  Not bad, but it was talking to me some.

Friday night I took my friend out to a nice dinner for his birthday.  He loves Texas de Brazil, so it was a lot of meat.  I can't eat red meat, so I fill up on their yummy sausages and some wonderful goat cheese.  We then made our way to the Apple store as I wanted to check out their AirPods.  I wanted some truly wireless earphones and I wanted to make sure they would fit properly.  Well they did and they were comfortable so I bought a pair.  I'll post something about them in a couple weeks after I have a chance to use them and run in them.

This past weekend I wanted to try to get at least one bike ride in.  The weather would be nice for riding in the morning.  Saturday I knew my quad was still a little acky to head out.  And the only group going out was a little faster then I'm used to, so I knew I didn't want to push it.  I set my alarm to head out with a group on Sunday morning and when I woke up my quad hurt more then it had in the last few days.  So I decided to not go and stretch and roll it some more.  I decided to use that time to start looking into getting some Podcasts onto my iPod.  I've listened to Podcasts every so often, but it was never a regular thing.  I decided to add a few to my iPod to listen to during my runs.

How is your training going?  Do you listen to Podcasts?  If so any recommendations?

Linking up with Holly and Tricia's Weekly Wrap Up.

Biking Tips and Tricks (Friday Five Edition)

I have finally gotten my bike out of the garage, cleaned off the cobwebs, pumped up the tires, and took it out for a spin.  While I was growing up, our family time on the weekends was going for bike rides.  I remember going all over the town every weekend.  A couple times we even rode our bikes (and walked a lot) up the Vail Pass in Colorado.  I remember that coming back down was the most fun thing ever.  Here are some things I've learned over the years.


1.  Safety first - Get a helmet.  While it is a state law in 22 states and DC that children have to wear a helmet, there are no state or federal laws for adults to wear their helmet.  Though there are a lot of jurisdictions in every state that have a law for everyone, no matter what age, on a bicycle must wear a helmet.   Wearing a helmet while on a bicycle is like wearing a seat belt while in a car.  It's something that is easy to do and could save your life.  Get one that is comfortable and fits well.  And make sure the chin strap is not too lose.  They have tons of styles and colors out there so while it still is a little dorky to wear it, you can at least look pretty doing it.


Get lights for your bike.  No matter what time of day it is or how bright it is outside, you are easier to see if you have flashing lights on your bike.  I like to have them on my front and back.  You can attach them to your bike, your helmet, and even your clothing.  The more you can do to help drivers see you, the safer you will be.

2.  Know your bike.  I think the one thing that everyone must know about their bike is the tires.  Being able to feel if your tires are a little low and know how much air to add is very important.  Everyone should have a bike pump and check their tires before every ride.  Changing a flat may be something a little more difficult.  If you are out and about, it's best to know how to do it as you never know when you will have a flat.  I was very nervous the first time I tried to change mine, but after many watches of YouTube videos I figured it out.  Taking a front tire off is easy, but the back one took me awhile to figure out.  Once the tire is off, it's not too difficult.  You might get a little dirty though.

Make sure you know how your bike shifts.  While I have been biking since I was a child, there are times where I haven't biked in years.  A few years ago I went for a ride after about 7 years of not riding and I went up the first hill and couldn't remember how to shift down.  I had to get off my bike and walk up the hill before I could remember how to do it.  And then it turned out that I was in the lowest gear and just really out of shape.  A lot of the road bikes have shifts that are part of the breaks and they can be confusing if you haven't used them before.

The one thing that I have heard a lot is that people are scared of clip pedals.  When I was younger and riding around with my parents, we had the cage pedals.  When I got my new bike, I made sure I got clips on them.  You have to buy special shoes to clip into the pedals.  The advantage of clips is that you can get some extra power from pedaling.  With the clips, you not only have the power of the pushing down, but of pulling up.  If you decide to get clips the easiest thing to do is to get on your bike next to a wall or car and just practice snapping them in and out.  There was only one time that I fell off my bike because of the clips and that was me not paying attention and forgetting to unclip when I came to a light.  I felt so stupid as my bike slowed down to almost a stop and then fell over.  In front of tons of cars too.


3.  When starting out find a safe place to ride.  When it's been more then a year since I have been on my bike, I like to go to a place that doesn't have any traffic to get in my way.  Over 20 years ago a business park near me was built for Motorola.  They bailed out after the roads were built out.  To this day there are only a handful of business there so on the weekend there is no traffic.  It's a place were bikers and runners go for a safe place to exercise.  We also have the Cap2Cap which is a path that was built from Richmond to Williamsburg.  I have yet to ride it, but hope to do so this summer.  I feel safe in places like this while I reacquaint myself with my bike.

Once you feel comfortable on the road find a group to ride with.  I feel a lot more comfortable when I'm riding with others then by myself.  We have a group here called RABA (Richmond Area Bicycling Association).  They offer tons of rides every month for all speeds, lengths and areas in the city.  They even have a first time rider group once a month where the veterans of the group help out those new to biking.  Everyone in the group looks out for everyone and being in a group makes it easier for cars to see you.  But remember if you meet up with a big group, break off to smaller groups.  I don't like to ride in a group bigger then 5 as it is hard for cars to pass you.

4.  While riding on the road you have to follow the same laws cars do.  You have to come to complete stops at stop signs and red lights.  You have to signal if you are turning or slowing down.  You are considered a moving vehicle and can be ticketed for the same things that cars are, including DUIs.

I don't like to use the right turn on the right as I'm always afraid that the cars cannot see my right hand.

When riding on the road you have to ride with traffic, not like running where you run against traffic.  There are different laws in different states about how a car can pass a cyclist.  Most states have laws that cars have to pass at least 3-4 feet away from the cyclist.  But the problem with this is that most drivers does not know the laws of sharing the road.  This is what makes a lot of people scared to ride their bikes on the road.  I enjoy getting out there and riding different places in the city.  I try to not ride on busy roads, makes sure I am easily seen, and always assume that the cars will not know the laws or doesn't care about the bicyclists.

5. Clothing - If you have ever seen any bikers on the road, you will notice they have a jersey on with tight shorts that go down to their knees.  Most of the shirts are on the tighter side of things (which I hate), but it's to help with the wind resistance.  And most of the shirts have some sort of pockets in the back.  This is to hold extra things like snacks or maybe a wind/rain jacket.

Bike shorts are also form fitting to help with the wind resistance.  The are made for biking in they have padding in the crotch.  If you do some biking you will notice your bum will probably be the first thing that hurts.  The padding in the shorts does help that, but what I found the most helpful is time on the bike.  If you do 10 miles one day, the last few miles might start bothering you.  But if you do 10 miles a few times a week, you will not notice the pain as much.  Your bum is something that needs to be trained like any of your other muscles.  Most people that wear the bike shorts will not wear underwear as they can cause more chafing.  Again, I know it seems gross and wrong, but if it didn't help, I wouldn't do it.  So the next time you see a bunch of bikers out on the road, know that they are most likely not wearing underwear.

But really, anything that you find comfortable is what you should wear.  Most of the time on shorter rides I'll wear the same tank tops as I do running.  For longer rides where I need the pockets, I have also found some fun cycling shirts that are made for women that don't feel uncomfortable.

Bonus tip: This is just something I like to do - pedal down the hills.  It's easy to coast down hills and enjoy the small break, but I have found that if you pedal down the hill, it makes going up the next one a lot easier as you have the speed.  And it's fun to go really fast down the hills.

Do you bike as a cross-training activity?  Do you like getting out there on the road or take a spin class at the gym? Any tricks or tips that you have?

I'm linking up with Fairytales and Fitness and Running on Happy for Friday Five 2.0

Swimming Tips and Tricks (Friday Five Edition)

I have been getting back to swimming recently.  It's a great way to exercise, especially if you have a nagging pain when you run.  I grew up with a pool in my backyard, so swimming is second nature to me and something I always enjoy.  That doesn't mean I have an easy time talking myself into getting into the pool, especially in the colder months (even in a heated indoor pool).  Here are some tips that I use to make it more enjoyable.


1. Since I had a pool growing up, every summer my hair would be dry and green (especially since I have blond hair).  We would use all the different shampoos that were made to combat that, but they never really worked.  Nowadays there are a lot more shampoos out there that help and the technology is a lot better today.  But what I have found that works is to prevent it by putting conditioner on your hair (not rinsing it off) and then covering it up with a swim cap.  This is a tip that came from my hairdresser.  I've been in the pool once a week for the last few weeks with no damage to my hair.

2. Swimming laps is really boring.  Really really boring.  Like serious boring.  What I have found to help pass the time is a waterproof iPod.  There are a few companies that waterproof the iPod Shuffle.  I am not a huge fan of the Shuffles, but no one waterproofs Nanos, because the touchscreen is hard to use when wet.  The waterproof earbuds with shorter cords are a must with the iPod.  It's easy to hook the iPod on your goggles and having a short cord means it won't get tangled while you swim.  The earbuds also help me stop getting water in my ears.

3. Have you ever had foggy goggles?  The best way to combat it is to spit in the lenses.  I know this sounds super gross, but I wouldn't do it if it didn't work.  I spit into each lens and use my finger to get the whole lens wet and shake it out.  Do not put it into the water to rinse off.  It works both in the pool and in open water.


4.  Don't be afraid to take a lesson or join a swim clinic.  When I was little, my parents signed me up for all the swim lessons that the rec center offered till we took them all and then they signed me up for diving lessons (which did not go well).  Even though I know how to swim, I did find the clinic very helpful.  I picked up things like I didn't kick very well while I was swimming.  I since have been working on focusing on making my kicks stronger.

5. Wash everything off.  While chlorine is good to keep a pool safe and clean, it takes it's toll on everything we put into it.  I try to make sure that I rinse everything out well after each swim.  It's easily done if you just jump into the shower with everything on and rinse it off with the water from the shower.  Every once in awhile I'll put soap on everything to clean it good, but not often.  I know you are not supposed to put your suit in the washing machine, but I will after a few swims.  I have plenty of different suits and they are all inexpensive so I'm not too worried about that.  But I will not put them in the dryer.

Bonus:  There are times that I do water jogging when I have a pain that won't go away and I don't want to lose too much endurance or I'm in the middle if a training cycle.  The best way to do this is to have a floater that goes around your waist.  I bought mine on Amazon for about $25.  My gym also has a couple for the members to use while there.  The trick to water jogging is to stay where your feet do not touch the bottom of the pool.  At the one at my gym it's hard as that's only about the middle third of the pool so I'm continuously turning around.  I did do the water jogging at an aqua center where they have a whole section that is deep enough to jog.  The other trick is to keep your body as upright as possible to mimic running.  It's amazing what type of workout you can get without straining your legs.

Do you swim as a cross-training activity?  How do you entertain yourself when lap after lap gets so boring?  Any tricks or tips that you have?

I'm linking up with Fairytales and Fitness and Running on Happy for Friday Five 2.0

Functional Training (Friday Five Edition)

So I have been wanting to post about the class I take at the gym for awhile, but never got around to do it.  Friday Five topic works perfectly into this.


I have been taking a class at the gym for about 5 years now.  It's a class full of regulars and an amazing teacher.  It's called Functional Training, or FT for short.  This class has been going on for almost 20 years.  One of the guys has been going to it for 18 years.

The teacher is an older gentleman from Turkey.  He is short, quiet, and has a heavy accent and he works us hard.  He is also a runner.  Not only a runner, but back in the day he won the Athens Marathon.  Yes, won it.  He also almost went to the Olympics, but he hurt his knee just before.

The class is offered three days a week at 7 AM.  This works out well for me, as when I was working, I could shower there and head strait to work.  Now it's a good reason for me to get up and get my day moving.

Each of the three days is set up differently.  On Tuesdays we have our mats at the back of the class and do abs and weights for the first 20 minutes.  Then he will have us go run the track a few times.  We will either have stations set up for the rest of the class or something else that he has set up for us.  During this time he will send us out to run a few more laps.  In total we run 6 laps for a total of a mile.


On Thursdays we each have our own station set up with a mat and steps.  We do different ab, arm, and step workouts.  We will do group things like lunges, ab workout on the ball, and running back and forth on the side of the room.  There is no running on the track on Thursdays.


On Friday there about 25 stations set up around the room.  Each station is done for a minute then move to the next.  Throughout the class, we are to run 1-3 laps around the track, equaling 6 laps for a mile.  I usually do not go to Friday's class as I am either running or swimming that day.  I also found the same setup each week makes me not push myself as much.


No matter what type of shape you are in or if you have something that is bothering you, you can work at your own speed.  Use heavier or lighter weights, do all the reps or sit some out, or even walk or use the elliptical instead of running the laps.  No one cares how much you do, they are just happy you are there.  It's nice that everyone knows everyone and notices if you miss a day.  It's a great motivator to keep coming back.

What I like about this class is that on Tuesday and Thursday everything is different.  We might do a lot of the same exercises, but none of them are in the same order.  He always likes to throw new things in every so often to throw us off our game.  But we always get strength and aerobic exercise in. 

Do you have a class at the gym you go to regularly?  Or are you motivated enough to do something on your own?

I'm linking up with Fairytales and Fitness and Running on Happy for Friday Five 2.0

Christmas in Denver vlog (Tuesdays on the Run Edition)

I know Tuesday's on the Run's main focus is supposed to be about running, but I wanted to get my vlog from Denver up.  In my defense I do talk about the runs I did while I was there.  So I hope that counts. :)

Disclaimer:  Again, I didn't get as many videos done that I wanted to, so I filled some of it with still pictures.  I'll have to see if I can do better in Disneyland.  I hope everyone likes it.

I’m linking up with with MCM Mama Runs, Marcia’s Healthy Slice, and My No Guilt Life for the Tuesdays on the Run linkup.

Running 23 Miles with Matthew (Weekly Wrap-up Edition)

So on Saturday, I ran 23 miles with Hurricane Matthew.  While we didn't get a direct hit, we got a lot of rain and some wind.  Not bad enough to cancel the run, but enough for it to be a very wet run.

Monday I didn't go out for a run as I didn't have time.  Plus I kinda counted the hiking we did on Sunday as a run.  Wednesday I got out there and had a great run.  I worked from home so I ended up being able to run after the sun came up.  I really felt like I was finally getting back to where I was before I hurt my back.  There was a guy that was out there with his dog.  He said he has seen me running a lot and to keep it up.  Makes up for the stupid guy last week. :)

Friday while it was still a good run, I felt slower.  I realized it was a lot more humid on Friday then it was on Wednesday.  I had to go into the office, so I had to run before the sun came up.  This is the time of the year where the acorns are falling from the trees.  They kept hitting different surfaces and freaked me out a bit.  That and the acorns were all over the road and I had to watch myself at some places.

Saturday the long arms of Hurricane Matthew hit us.  The weather was in the upper 60's but there was a lot of rain.  I started off before the MTT group as they only had 20 miles on the docket and I wanted to get in 23.  I ran up and back for an extra 3 miles and then off on the route given to us.  I only had 4 miles that I ran over a 16 minute mile.  I was so impressed with my consistency through the run.  I didn't feel like I ran out of steam at the end like I usually do.

I felt like Matthew was keeping me company on my run.  Most of the time it was a light rain, but every so often it would down pour.  And there would be wind gusts every so often.  Every time the rain or wind picked up, I felt like he was encouraging me to keep going.  I just had to embrace the rain and enjoy what was given to me.

The route that they had for us went through a lot of nice neighborhoods.  It was still a little dark out, but there was a lot of street lights still on.  I ran by this church that had signs of all the terrorist attacks that have happened and at the end is a sign that says "Love One Another".  I was very touched by this.

I also ran by a few houses that had Halloween decorations up.  This was my favorite one.

This same house had a big metal rooster and it really reminded me of The Bloggess.

But most of the run this was my view.  A lot of rain.

And a lot of puddles to watch out for.

I used this run to see what time I would make it for mile 15.5 and mile 18 for MCM.  So that I can beat The Gauntlet, I would have to be there no later then 12:38 PM.  Which means if I cross the start line right at 7:55 AM then I have 4:43 to get there.  If I cross the start line at 8:55 AM then I have 3:43.  I got to 15.5 on my training run in 4:03, which means I have to cross the start line by 8:35 AM or earlier to feel comfortable.

To beat the bridge at mile 18 by 1:15 PM.  That would mean I would need to get there between 4:20 - 5:20.  I got there in 4:40.  Plenty of time after getting past The Gauntlet.  So my main concern will be getting to The Gauntlet on time.

I was still one of the last people that got back to the parking lot.  I just hate that feeling that I know I did great for me, but still one of the last people to finish.  I told one of the coaches that I did an extra 3 miles and he scoffed at me.  The MTT thought of training is that you only need to do 20.  One would think that they would encourage you if you felt better doing something different from that.  There is not one way to train, and I'm doing what is best for me feeling like I can get to the finish line.

When I got home I saw how badly I chaffed.  I used so much Glide on myself because I knew it was going to rain the whole time and it didn't help.  I'm chaffed between my thighs, on my waist, and all around my bra line.  I also wish I had shorts and a sports bra that would treat my body better.  But thank goodness for Aquafur!

So now I have two weeks of tapering and then it's race time, though it really hasn't hit me, yet.  Some people have a hard time with taper time, but I really try to embrace it.  I feel really good about MCM after this run but I know I will be very nervous about beating those times.

Do you ever feel encouraged by the weather, even bad weather?  Do you look forward to taper time or dread it?  

Linking up with Holly and Tricia's Weekly Wrap Up.

Pennsylvania Grand Canyon (Friday Five Edition)

So you might see a similar post on Meranda's blog, but I wanted to talk about our fun little adventure up to the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon.  Meranda wanted to check it out as there was supposed to be a race there but there was no information about it online as they cancelled it this year (we are hoping just this year and not forever).  But I'm always up for a road trip so I told her I would check it out with her.  Here are 5 things that happened.

1. We got lost.  Well we really didn't get lost, it's just that most mapping systems didn't even know where the PA Grand Canyon is.  Google did, but apparently it considers several State Parks part of the whole same system and it sent is to the wrong one.  So we went probably 30 minutes out of our way and had to cross this scary bridge as well.  But we talked to some really nice bikers who were doing a whole weekend ride through the rail trail in that area.  I kinda wanted to join them.

2. We had a second day of cooperating weather.  While it was dreary out, it really didn't start raining till we left the park.  The temperatures were cool where we had to put on a jacket and were happy that we were wearing jeans.  Then while we were hiking we got hot and had to strip our jackets and at that point I was kinda hating my jeans.

3. It was beautiful!!  These pictures really do not do it justice.  With the overcast skies most of the pictures came out kinda dark.

4. When they say the trails were steep, they were not kidding.  We went on the shorter path first and it looped around back to the top.  It was short and kinda steep.  The second trail we went on was a bit longer and a lot steeper.  As we started the second trail, we saw kids coming up.  Everyone was huffing and puffing, but we said we were marathoners, this would be no big deal.  Well it kinda was a big deal.

The downhill to me was the hardest.  While it wasn't raining, the trail was still wet and had leaves all over it.  I was terrified that I was going to slip and fall.  Also, my knee really was hurting on the way down.  It doesn't like hills.  So we made it down to the waterfall and decided the rest wasn't worth going down as others coming up said it just leads down to the rail trail and river.  The waterfall was really pretty.  Not as large as I thought it would be, but worth the trek down.

We hung out and took pictures.

The walk up wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.  While we huffed and puffed all the way up and had to stop a couple times to catch our breath, I felt safer going up.  And my knee completely stopped hurting.  Though my calfs were feeling it by the end.  Meranda's Garmin said that between the two hikes the elevation was 799 feet.

Oh I have to add that there was this guy that ran down and back up twice while we were hiking.  We thought he was insane as not only was it dangerous for him, but there were actually a good handful of people on the trail who had to make sure they moved out of the way of him on some very narrow paths.


5.  We should have asked before we started hiking where the race actually takes place.  It turns out that it takes place on the other side of the rim.  After seeing the park, I really wasn't sure how there was another side of the rim.  By the time we were done, I really was tired and ready for dinner and voted that we don't check out the other side.  I probably should have just sucked it up as now I'm very curious about it.  Might have to do another road trip just to check that out.

Have you ever been to the PA Grand Canyon?  What's your favorite part of hiking? 

Linking up with Courtney, Mar & Cynthia 

 

The Most Challenging Aspect of Running (Tuesdays on the Run Edition)

So the topic of Tuesdays on the Run this week is: The most challenging aspect of running right now is...... for me it would be patience.

This training cycle has been hard for me.  First the heat and my slow speed.  Then one injury or another.  I have to remember that training is just that, training.  Not everything will be perfect. 

The Richmond MTT had noted that this summer was the hottest training summer they have had in 15 years.  I have also been trying to run via my heart rate and not by time.  With the weather so hot, that makes training by heart rate harder.  It may not have been the best time to start that, but I'm glad I did.  I know it has helped me get through the hot summer.  I just had to remember all summer that my times will go down when it finally cools done.

As with the heat, I have dealt with injuries.  Most small and not a huge ding in my training.  Only missing one or two runs here and there.  And then I slipped and hurt my back.  The hardest part of all of that was that I have been doing everything right and I got hurt by walking to the shower in the locker room.  It took a month before I felt good enough for a long run.  I had to make sure I didn't start things up too soon.  I've needed a lot of patience in the last couple of weeks when all I wanted to do was run. 

MCM is in a month.  I have one more 20+ training run to do.  I know that I will have to be patient over the next few weeks.  I think some fun times and yoga and meditation should help me. :)

What has been challenging for you lately?  How do you battle patience?

I’m linking up with with MCM Mama Runs, Marcia’s Healthy Slice, and My No Guilt Life for the Tuesdays on the Run linkup.

Heart Rate Training Week 8 (Weekly Wrap-up Edition)

So this week really wasn't a good week training wise or really any other wise.

I don't have a running theme picture, so I thought I'd share one of my kitty

I think and hope my trifecta of bad new has hit me.  First was my back, which I still haven't been able to run because of.  Second, was issues with my dad and needing help while my mom is at work.  And now, this past week, I found out that I'll be losing my job at the end of the year because of outsourcing.

So my back is a little better, but it still hurts to run, so I haven't.  PT and the dry needling has helped, but I wish it would work faster.  I did a 5 mile walk on the treadmill on Monday and a 3 mile walk around the neighborhood on Friday.  Both hurt a little, but it's good to keep moving.  I did go to the gym twice this week too, but really haven't felt like I have done anything.  I'm hoping to do a long walk (and maybe a run here and there) this next weekend.  MCM is coming up and I'm getting nervous.

My dad's situation has gotten better.  My mom found a neighborhood kid (well not a kid, he's 21) to help out.  I went by on Tuesday and Wednesday to be there just in case anything happened.  Things seemed to mellow out and I think he will work out.  At least I really hope so.  We will see how things go on his own this week.  Fingers crossed.

As for my job, they are outsourcing some things and about 60 of us will be gone in 3-6 months.  I have a nice severance package which I only get if I stay till the end of the year.  I've already been looking for a new job so this really isn't the worst news.  I now have a chance to try something new in IT or get out of IT all together.  Right now the sky's the limit and I'll be trying to figure out what I want to do in the next month.

And then last night I had a dream that my car was stolen.  Really?  I don't need something else right now so I'm glad it was only a dream.

So now things can only go up and get better.  Right?

Linking up with Holly and Tricia's Weekly Wrap Up.