a run of bad luck

As luck would have it, I’ve come down with something. It started Sunday, and manifested in into me losing my voice by the evening. I missed my run on Monday, then ran Tuesday only to miss my runs on Wednesday and today. I stopped at the Minute Clinic last night and it a viral thing, so no medicine. I actually feel fine except for my throat, which feels raw, and the constant draining down the back of my throat (yuck). I probably would have run anyway, but I didn’t sleep well and was too tired to wake up in time to run. Hopefully, I’ll be okay by the weekend because this sucks…

 

funny girl

After a busy morning on Saturday, we ended  up heading back to the park for some more fun on the slides in the late afternoon. It was actually another beautiful evening – surprisingly since it was overcast and raining intermittently throughout the day. I can’t think of any sound sweeter than hearing Lilli’s giggles as she heads down the slide, sometimes head first.

 

Yesterday, on the way home from a birthday party we happen to be listening to a Bob Marley CD and “Buffalo Soldier” came on, towards the end of the song where he sings “Woy yoy yoy yoy, yoy yoy-yoy yoy…” Lilli picks right up and is singing along… such a funny girl.

 

training: week 4 complete

A bit of a rough week for running, but got in all but one run this week...

Monday's 3.5 mile run was not too bad, felt pretty good actually. Even my 35 minute tempo run on Wednesday ended up being a good run.

Thursday came and I was too tired to get out of bed and run, so took the day off, but after dinner on Thursday we headed to the state park to play. It was such a beautiful evening. Lilli played on all the slides - she's found them to be a blast. Her favorite one is the biggest one there that is built into the side of a hill. She giggled all the way down. She looked like a little luge athlete from the olympics - so cute.

Yesterday was just 3 miles. It was a very slow run for me - close to a 10:00/mile pace and it felt awful. My right shin was tightening up, my gait felt all off, just not a good run, but I finished it, stretched and was fine.

Today's run was a 7 miler. Started out a 7am and ran the regular route through Fort Ben. Can't say I felt great on the run, not so much due to any pain, but because I was so congested. I haven't figured out if it is allergies or sinuses, but it is not fun. It took the entire hour of running to clear it all out... yuck.

After the run, I came home and got cleaned up to head over to Lawrence Safety Day. It was right down the road from home and we had taken our nephews a few years back and they enjoyed it, so we took Lilli for the first time. She loved seeing all the fire trucks and police motorcycles and she went crazy when the black hawk helicopter landed - she was so amazed by it (as was I). It hovered above the trees and then came in for a landing - just amazing the amount of wind it pushed down.

Next week is another bump up in the schedule. Stayed tuned for updates...

oh so tired...

I got home a little early yesterday from being on a job site all day, so I was able to finish priming the toy chest and even got a first coat of accent paint on the drawers and lid. I did notice some remedial patching and sanding that needs to be done, but nothing too labor intensive, just delays starting the final coat of paint. It felt great to get another step ahead on that project.

This morning, I was supposed to do a 35 minute tempo run, but due to lack of sleep last night (a certain someone got up crying at 1:30 am and didn't go back to sleep until 4:30 - poor little tired girl) I did not run this morning and I don't think I'll even try this evening. I guess I'll get to it tomorrow morning...

A friend of mine just got back into the office today. He just turned 40 on Saturday. To celebrate he ran the Pikes Peak Ascent. I am quite envious and it sounded like it was an amazing time. Even though I still have a few year yet, I looked into when my 40th birthday fell to see if there is a race that I might participate in to celebrate. Unfortunately it falls on a Monday, so I could either run the Sunday or Saturday before as my "last hurrah" before turning 40, or figure something else out. I'll be on the lookout for races and seeing what I can find. Until then, I am enjoying my 30's while I can.

I may have to grow old, but I don't have to grow up...

training: week 3 complete

It was a good week for training, even though the humidity is high. It was a slight step back week with only a 5k race scheduled for the long run, but the mid week runs kept me honest. This week the daily maintenance runs increased slightly to 3.5 miles from 3. Tuesday had me back at 400m repeats. Luckily, I fared a little better this time and kept my pace a little more even and started out at a more appropriate pace.

I opted out of doing a 5k race, instead hitting the trails for a more strenuous workout. Ended up slightly over 4 miles at an easy pace. Hills felt good surprisingly.

On a personal note, I actually made some progress this weekend on a project that I've put off for quite some time. We have a linen chest that we got with the armoire I finished last summer and it's been sitting in my garage all this time. The plan was to strip it of the layers of paint and refinish it for a toy chest for Lilli. We've been doing okay without it up to this point, but Lilli's toys are getting bigger as she does. So much of her little toys she played with as a baby are now boxed up, she's moved onto Tinker Toys and dollies. So over a few weekends this summer I've slowly gotten all the paint stripped off the chest. Yesterday I completed the stripping and sanded it and put a primer coat on the main chest. Still need to prime the top and the drawers, but if time allows, I might finish it up before she heads out to college...

600+ miles in one day

Yesterday I found myself behind the wheel for 11 hours driving up to Michigan. The original plan was to drive up for a construction meeting (about 3 hours one way), but I had to go from there, halfway across the state to Lansing to drop off drawings for review(an additional 2.5 hours), then drive back.

Needless to say my legs needed some stretching. This mornings run helped a lot too, but I could tell they were just a bit tired.

training: week 2 complete

A decent week overall. Got in 3 days during the week (missed one day). Not great runs, but got through them. Today's 6 miler wasn't bad, but I felt tired before it even started. On top of that I ran with no breakfast.

More building of mileage next week and capping it with a 7 miler.

back on tempo

After a little bit better night's sleep (and a little inspiration from reading some of the new Runner's World that came in the mail) I was anxious to get out for a run. To make it more interesting, there was fog everywhere. I always liked running in fog, it's so eerie - reminds me of some Stephen King novel...

Anyway, head out for a tempo run this morning to pick up where I left off. The last time I ran a tempo run was around the same time I ran my last 400m repeat, so it's all new to me. Fortunately, it was only a 30 minute tempo run, so it wasn't going to be painful. I started out easy then peaked around 7:45 - 8:00/mile pace. Felt pretty good actually.

Tomorrow, another 3 miles - nothing fancy.

off tempo

For the past two nights, I have not slept well. This morning I could not wake up, so did not get out for my tempo run. I can't even use the weather as an excuse (Though it had thundered, lightning and rained earlier this morning and is doing so currently - but it wasn't at the time I would normally run). So I either push it off to tomorrow, or try to get it in this evening. I leaning towards dealing with it another day... mood is not good, but for reasons other than non-running. I won't get into it (not that anyone reads this blog anyway), but suffice to say it's nothing I should be aggravated about, but I can't seem to help it.

fun with recycling

Yesterday was so beautiful out and it was impossible to stay indoors, so Lillian and I decided to play outside. The swing has become a little passe, so we got creative and dug out a box from the recycling pile and created a little playhouse. I think the look on her face says it all... we had a lot of fun. We even added color using some of her sidewalk chalk. She's quite the interior decorator!

This morning's run went well. Looking forward to my tempo run tomorrow...

training: week 1 complete

The first week actually went okay. I made my planned runs and topped out at 14.5 miles for the week. Today's 5 miler felt easy - especially compared to my last two weekend runs where I felt awful.

Tomorrow I rest and then begin my next week of training, more mid-week 3 milers (one a tempo run) and then a 6 miler for the long run.