Ton of Fun- Week Five

Another week done and I am down 4 pounds in total. I would have thought at this point I would have lost more weight, but I am actually pretty proud that my weight is where it is at. Obviously I would like to lose more weight, but prior to joining the challenge it was slowly creeping higher and higher since the end of marathon training. Here is an abbreviated look at week five by the day!

Friday- Halloween parade with my sister and her family. Went out to dinner with my parents.

Saturday- Pumpkins in the Park with my Dad. 

Sunday- Watched Ainsley and enjoyed a yummy beef stew made by my sister. 

Monday- Yoga at Molly's Yoga Corner. This was the last class in the session so it was restorative, which is like a giant relaxing stretch fest. Oh yea! 

Tuesday- Planned to run hill repeats and decided to run the hood instead. Then sat on the couch too long, got too dark too early and didn't run at all. Whoops. 

Wednesday- Spin class; Halloween style. Complete with black light, halloween trivia and candy. Yup, I earned a York Peppermint Patty. 

Thursday- At school I decided to dress up as a marathon runner, complete with finishers jacket, bib, race medal and running visor. Very original! Weigh-in and Half Moon salad. Handing out candy and enjoying some quality niece and nephew time. 

Ever been happy with yourself for accomplishing something, even if it didn't go as perfect as you hoped?

I think we all need more of this!

Week Seventeen Made Me Gleam

Wow what a fantastic week of training, I feel completely rejuventated. Now don't get me wrong, that doesn't mean I want to ramp up my mileage any time soon, but I think I should just continuously taper, like forever. Aside from my right calf still being tight, my body feels rested and (hopefully) ready for Sunday. I am leaning more and more towards wearing my calf sleeves and since I tested them out for the 20 miler I think that should help. I have had no hip/butt pain and I hope it stays that way.  

Monday- Rest.

Tuesday- 5.3 miles around Fairport.  

Wednesday- 1 hour spin and sculpt class at the RAC. 

Thursday- 3.2 miles around Pittsford with Molly. 

Friday- Rest.

Saturday- 8 miles around Fairport with Molly.

Sunday- Rest.  

Total Miles: 16.5            Planned Miles: 21        

Total Marathon Miles: 321.5

After Girls On The Run Thursday, Molly and I got a run in together around Pittsford. Molly had taken a bit of a running hiatus and it was her first run in about ten days. She pulled through like a champ and even though we didn't go very fast it was a really fun run filled with lots of chit chat and marathon planning. Plus we were both proud that we had run farther then the girls that day, because in the previous weeks that wasn't so true. They had been kicking our butts.  

Friday night I hung out at my sisters house and helped them with the kids while they did yard work in the rain. Guess who had more fun?!

We did!!

I woke up Saturday morning for my long run and "We are the Champions" by Queen just happened to be playing on the radio. It was cold, super cloudy and looked like it was about to poor at any minute. Molly met me in Fairport for our last pre-marathon long run together. I showed Molly my usual 5 mile route, since she is moving to Fairport soon. Welcome to hill land sista. Since we had 8 on the schedule and I usually turn around at the canal, we decided to just add the extra 3 by going out a mile and a half and back. It worked perfect and she really liked the route. 

At noon Rob and I headed to Watkins Glen for the Fly By Night Duathlon that takes place on the race course. My parents decided to come watch and stayed for the weekend at the KOA nearby. This was Rob's first race of 2013, what the heck has he been waiting for?!? Actually since we are trying to save money for the wedding we have both cut our races back a lot this year. We went to the campground and hung out with my parents for a few hours and then headed over to the track. We met up with the Tuckers there and had fun entertaining each other...

Hanging out near the garages.

This race was so cool, transition is actually on pit road and we got to see them multiple times because their bike loops go around the track. It was hard cheering for so many people and paying attention to who was where. Rob wound up taking 8 or 9 minutes of his time so he was excited about that. 

Scott and Rob strategizing in transition. 

After the race ended we headed back to the RV for a late dinner. Usually sleeping in the top bunk of the RV can be uncomfortable and I usually wake up with a stiff back, but I think we were both pretty tired so we just passed out. Rob locked his keys in the trunk Sunday morning as we were packing our things and my parents thought it was funny that we don't have each others car keys. Maybe we'll have a key exchanging ceremony as part of the wedding, haha. After we got on our way we stopped at one winery, actually it was a meadery, did some tasting testing and bought a couple bottles to take home. 

Monday is usually a rest/yoga day, but I had to get a run in since my Thursday schedule is different this week. I had made two running dates and instead of canceling on either one I combined them! So I picked up Evan and we went to Molly's place to run around the city. I couldn't believe how different everything looked in spring, compared to the last time I ran that same route when our training started back in January. It was quite chilly, in fact I busted out my tights, good thing I never really put them away. Another great run and even Molly was on the happy train this time. We did so well that instead of walking in her complex as a cool down, like usual, we ran in!  On the way home I treated Evan to Tom Wahl's for an orange float. I didn't really care for this and wish I had gotten my usual strawberry milkshake. So much for watching my intake leading up to the marathon. 

Today started off great too! I got to school and in my mailbox was this...

5 miles stand between me and the marathon, wow! 

Needed Caffeine For Week Fourteen

If you read yesterdays post you know that a little Mountain Dew helped me out on my twenty miler! Week fourteen was my biggest training week ever and I am feeling better then ever too. How is that possible? I have been plagued by tight calves and a sore hip/butt for months and yet this week it has been minimal. Don't get me wrong, I am not complaining, but I am hoping this isn't the calm before a storm or something treacherous sounding like that. Maybe I have been doing my training properly and have laid down a good foundation. Let's review my 14th week of training, four more to go!

Monday- Yoga.

Tuesday- 4.09 miles from Fleet Feet.  

Wednesday- 9.5  solo miles. 

Thursday- Rest.

Friday- Rest.

Saturday- 1 hour spin class/arm strength training.

Sunday- 20 miles.  

Total Miles: 33.59            Planned Miles: 40        

Total Marathon Miles: 288.76

Monday was a day a lot of us will never forget. Since my 8th graders were painting and I normally play music, I asked if they wouldn't mind if I put on the Boston Marathon. The ones that answered said it was fine and they totally got into watching it. They were cheering for the elites and asking me questions about what they were doing and why. I felt like I actually knew what I was talking about too. The elites finished during my lunch break so Sarah and I kept it on to see the winners cross the finish line. All was right in the world. Then we had a meeting after school and one of the other teachers asked if we had heard what happened, since we had been watching it earlier we were shocked to find out what transpired at the finish line. I couldn't help but think what if it was me or my family that was put into harms way by my hobby, something that I do to try to be a bit healthier. This one hit way too close to home.  

Tuesday has been our weeknight long run night, but since it was raining and we were in a bit of a funk Molly and I went to Panera instead. We had heard that there was going to be a 4.09 mile memorial run at Fleet Feet and we were intrigued by the news crews and the event that was transpiring around us. We decided to suck it up and run. One of the runners who trained with FF for Boston returned and the news crews surrounded him like a swarm of bees. Ellen spoke and got emotional. Malcolm talked about his experience and how his medal is so different then all his others. We then ran 4.09 miles in honor of the time the first blast occurred. 

Media Swarm

Ellen staying strong.

Malcolm sharing his Boston experience.

Wednesday I was on my own to do my long run. This is the longest solo run I have ever done. This run kinda sucked. When I run alone I often have a really hard time keeping a consistent pace. It was also windy and cool and sunny, so I was warm and cold and had fogged glasses all at the same time. I ran down to Rob's work in Bushnell's Basin and then headed back on the canal. Long cruddy run and I was excited to be done with it. This was more challenging then 20 now that I think about it.

Saturday I got to sleep in and headed to the RAC to warm up on the octane, do some arm strength training and take an hour spin class. The spin class was good. I think I still like my Wednesday class better but the instructor was six months pregnant and put me to shame. One funny thing is that she played a song that I haven't heard in a long time. It was a song that Rob used to like when we first started hanging out and I instantly had a flashback to driving around Rochester in his black Mazda on a sunny day, with the sunroof open when we were just friends. Isn't it crazy how a song can transport you to a past memory? Good times.

Speaking of Rob we started our wedding registry this past weekend. His demands were a scale, with fancy bells and whistles,  and a mandolin for slicing veggies. He got his wish...

Week Thirteen Made Me Beam

Week 13 is over and done. Just when I think training couldn't be going any faster it seems like it is passing me by. Even though the weather was a downer this week it was a great week. 

Monday- Dr. Burton and yoga on my own.

Tuesday- 9 miles with Molly.  

Wednesday- 45 minute spin class. 

Thursday- Rest.

Friday- Rest.

Saturday- 18.1 miles with Katie & Molly.

Sunday- Rest.  

Total Miles: 27.1            Planned Miles: 36        

Total Marathon Miles: 255.17

I went to Dr. Burton on Monday and practically broke down and whined to him about my cruddy 16 mile run in the OBX. My first question to him, "what was I supposed to do if it (pain in my hip/butt) happened during the marathon." I think he probably thought I was a wimpy amateur (which I am) and to suck it up and deal with it was probably the answer he wanted to say (I don't blame him). I don't remember what his exact advice was, I joked that I might have mom and dad carry my foam roller and some ice, he said that could work. I couldn't imagine laying on the sidewalk stretching out while marathoners in there 60's and 70's, blind, disabled, what have you, flew by and stared at me, probably laughing. I imagine them laughing. All this doesn't matter, he allowed me to vent and complain and didn't judge me (at least to my face) and reassured that I would be okay and in the grand scheme of life this is barely a blip on the radar. He was right, damn him. After my AMAZING 18 mile run my confidence is back and I am cautiously optimistic for 20 miles this weekend. 

Tuesday's midweek long run feels like so many miles ago that I can barely remember it. Molly and I left from Fleet Feet and headed down East Ave towards the city. We must be spending so much time with each other that we can read each others mind, because we came dressed in the same exact outfit! Since it was cold and rainy and I was preoccupied with running 9 miles I forgot to take a photo, whoops. The route we took was nice and different then normal. Towards the end the rain was coming down pretty hard and we both just wanted it to be done. I did find this little gem along the way...

  

Lazy Elves Took Over Week Twelve

My name is Stephanie and I was abducted by Lazy Elves. They are located in the Outer Banks, if you are training for anything, avoid the area. Week twelve was my last step back week before ramping up to my biggest weeks. I may have stepped waaaaaay back. 

Monday- 16 miles. Covered this last week.

Tuesday- Rest. Massage.  

Wednesday- 5 miles with Dad & Ronni. 

Thursday- Rest.

Friday- Rest.

Saturday- Rest.

Sunday- Rest.  

Total Miles: 5 (technically speaking)       Planned Miles: 29         

Total Marathon Miles: 228.07

After my 16 mile run I was a bit burned out. I was discouraged that I couldn't do the entire run consecutively, my body was just tired, and my calves and hip/butt were very mad at me. I didn't approach the week thinking I was going to take four rest days, it just kinda happened. But I'm sort of glad it did. I treated myself to a massage and then wanted a day or two to just hang around and read and be on vacation. On Wednesday I wanted to check out the boardwalk around Duck and we wound up doing 5 miles, nice! Thursday was a scheduled rest day so I think I watched Lincoln and Les' Mis. Friday the weather was cold and I think rainy so I skipped the run. Saturday we traveled back to Syracuse so rest day again and Sunday I headed back to Rochester and just wanted a day to get back to the real world. Okay so I am not a perfect marathon trainer and I am okay with that. I did 9 miles yesterday with Molly and felt great, so it was worth it. Plus now I feel rejuvenated and ready to go into my next two big weeks and then it is time to taper, holy cow, 38 days til CLE!!!  Here is one of the things I am working so hard for...

Okay one final gratuitous sunset photo to end the vacation talk...

Week Eleven Was No Week Seven

Okay, so I had a hard time coming up with something that rhymed with eleven, other then heaven. If you've been with me on this journey you know that training so far has had its up and downs. Week eleven as pretty good overall. I can't believe that we are already into April which will be my last full month of training, crazy!! Here is my weekly recap:

Monday- Dr. Burton visit and Yoga. 

Tuesday- 8.03 miles in Fairport.  

Wednesday- 1 hour spin and sculpt class at the RAC, 2.1 mile run with Molly. 

Thursday- Rest.

Friday- Rest.

Saturday- 3.4 miles around Colonial Williamsburg.

Sunday- 3.2 miles in Duck, OBX.  

Monday- 16 miles in Duck, OBX.

Total Miles: 32.73       Planned Miles: 32         

Total Marathon Miles: 223.07

Monday was a recovery day from the Syracuse Half Marathon. I felt pretty good, considering after the Lake Effect Half Marathon I could barely walk. I scheduled an appointment with Dr. Burton and he said my mobility in my hip was better even though I still had some tender spots. I then headed to yoga to stretch out. I have one more free class so I need to figure out strategically when to use it. Tuesday I had 8 miles on the schedule and Molly and I couldn't make the timing work to run together, so I plotted an 8 mile route around Fairport and headed out early to get it done in the daylight.

Tour de Fairport

This route was a good one, now that they have built the pedestrian bridge over the canal it is great to jump from the canal path to the trolley path and make longer routes. The run kinda sucked though. My body was tired and my calves were sore but I got it done with some walking at the end. Then I enjoyed some of this:

Yummy!

I ate about half of this and then went to bed. I figured since I had such a long run I might wake up thirsty. I woke up about an hour after I had gone to bed and went to the fridge for something to drink. When I opened the fridge I saw I had put my pint of sherbet in the fridge instead of the freezer. I guess I was a little tired and out of it. I did enjoy the rest of it the next day!

Wednesday I did the hour long spin and sculpt class like usual. I finally got to try out my new spin shoes and they rocked!! Molly joined me for part of the class and then went to her personal training appointment. After we were both done at 5:30 we decided to change into our running clothes and head out on the path behind the gym. This run sucked even more! Even though we both had the best intentions to get out there and get some miles done, it wasn't happening. It was almost comical how slow we were running. We decided to give up and head back. When we got back to where we started I was finally warming up, just a bit, so I encouraged Molly to do a tiny bit more and we wound up with just over 2 miles. 

Thursday and Friday were both travel and rest days. Saturday I got this fun run in at Colonial Williamsburg and even though Sunday was scheduled to be my long run day, I pushed it a day back for better weather. 

Easter egg hunt!

My loot!

Well I thought it was a good idea at the time, but I probably would have been better off running on Sunday. The weather on Monday wound up being warmer and sunnier then I am used too and it was humid. I had 16 miles on the schedule and figured out an 8 mile loop that I would do twice. I convinced my dad to come with me on his bike, so he and Ronni rode around while I ran. 

Looks comfortable,
but I actually got tan lines!

When I got to the 4 mile turn around I was feeling pretty good so I decided to keep going, that way my second loop could be shorter. At 6 miles we headed back and at this point I was starting to feel the heat and the sun. Around mile 10 my calves and hip/butt were really starting to hurt and even though I would have liked to do 16 consecutive miles, it wasn't happening. I decided to head back to the house at 12 miles, stretch, maybe change and head back out for the last 4. 

Gotta love Duck!

Okay so I may have had a little bit of fun.

I rolled out and maybe iced my hip, it is all a blur. I stood on the deck with the cool ocean breeze and ate some pineapple and then put my music on and headed back out for the last four. This was more of a run/walk but I just wanted to see my Garmin hit 16. When I finished I rolled out and iced some more. I was sore and overheated and tired for the rest of the day. 

These have nothing to do with my slow pace, nothing at all.

So since I am on vacation and training for a marathon, I thought I would treat myself with a sports massage at a local massage therapy joint. The price seemed decent and they had great reviews on yelp and tripadvisor. I made a 10:15 appointment for Tuesday morning. It was an hour of heaven, and even though I would have liked her to apply a little more pressure, Christina did a great job. If you are ever staying in the OBX and need a massage I highly recommend this place. They were super nice, the place was very quiet and clean. 

Okay so that weekly recap may have covered more then a week but since I altered my training schedule a bit next week will just be a bit shorter. Okay, off to go fly a kite, hope your week is going well!!

Ever get a massage on vacation?

What are you supposed to do when your body breaks down on a run?

Week Ten Ends In Zen

If you read my Syracuse Half race report then you already know how my week ended. That 5 minute or so chair massage left me wanting more. I felt so bad for the masseuse who had to touch all those sweaty and stinky runners, myself included, but it was heaven! Week ten was actually pretty darn decent overall, let's recap, shall we?!

You know it is a good week when
Daily Mile says you're "Rockin".

Monday- Rest. Saved my other free yoga session for after the half, thinking I would need it more then. 

Tuesday- 7.05 miles at Cobb's Hill with Molly.  

Wednesday- Rest. Drama with workout gear. 

Thursday- 4.5 miles around Pittsford with Molly.

Friday- Rest.

Saturday- 2.3 miles around Cicero with Dad and Ronni.

Sunday- 15.22 miles total, 2 before 13.22 during the Syracuse Half.  

Total Miles: 29.07       Planned Miles: 29         

Total Marathon Miles: 190.34

Tuesday I convinced Molly to do the same route I did the previous week. We went up to Cobb's Hill and around it four times and then headed back the long way. However, towards the end we realized I must not have done the exact same thing, because we were ahead on miles and didn't have to go as far as I originally thought. SCORE!! Molly surprisingly liked the route as well and even though it can be mentally tough to go around the reservoir so many times there is a decent amount of variety overall. I also tried to challenge myself again by speeding up between different points, mostly light posts, and working in a little speed play. Getting a long weekday run out of the way early in the week is nice because then the end of the week isn't heavy with miles. Oh yeah and I got a new car! 

Same car I had, Nissan Sentra, but they
offered a free early lease swap!

I was excited when I woke up Wednesday because I got new spin shoes I was dying to try them out later in the afternoon. I packed my gym bag and headed off to work. I stalled at work  like normal and was getting prepared to leave when something clicked and I realized I didn't remember putting my gym bag in the car. I was so busy trying to pick up the apartment for the maintenance works and taking out the garbage, I totally left my gym bag on the floor in the bedroom. Exhibit A:

In the same exact spot I left it. 

Since I stalled and didn't realize it until too late, it would have been a pain to rush home to get it and head back to the gym. I just chalked it up to me having to get some other things off my plate and I ran some errands and had a productive night doing other things.

Thursday was going to be jammed pack and I was hell bent on not forgetting anything in the morning so I lined all my "ducks" in a row and realized that I probably looked like a crazy bag lady when I left for work.

School Bag, Lunch Bag, Running Bag, Girls on The Run Bag.

After school we had our first Girls on The Run (GOTR) session! GOTR is a ten week program where girls train for their first 5k and learn about healthy lifestyle choices, improving self-esteem, body image and giving back to their community. It is an amazing program that I coached last year and this year I roped Molly into being my assistant coach. I plan to dedicate another post all to GOTR so stay tuned. After GOTR, Molly and I scheduled a four mile run around the village of Pittsford. We started out with a pretty big uphill but at least we got it out of the way early. We headed towards the village and it felt great to not have a set route and to go with the flow. At one point we wanted to jump back on the canal so we may have done a little trespassing and mountain scaling. We wound up with more then four miles and may or may not have gone to Moe's for dinner afterward.  

Friday was a rest day and Saturday Rob and I headed to Syracuse. We did packet pick-up at Fleet Feet and they were even nice enough to give me a deal on a new Moving Comfort sports bra since the last and most recent one I bought from them completely broke down way too soon. After dinner Dad asked if I wanted to join him for a little walk/run on his usual route. I wound up walking with him the whole time and it felt good to stretch a bit and get a couple more miles under my feet. 

For week 11, I'll get a new distance PR of 16 miles as long as all goes as planned. Since we'll be driving and arriving in The Outer Banks on Saturday, I plan on figuring out an 8 mile loop and getting my long run done on Sunday. Here's to running in warm(er) weather and looking at ocean instead of snow!!!

Ever trespass on a run?

What is your favorite thing about running in a new location?

BONUS: Are you good at getting your workout in while on vacation?

Week Nine Was Just Fine

Week nine was just fine. I didn't do everything I was supposed to, but I'm okay with that. Winter wont seem to quit and I am beyond frustrated with it. Here was my step back week, I may have step backed more then I was supposed to, woopsie.

Monday- Yoga.

Tuesday- 7 miles at Cobb's Hill.  

Wednesday- 1 hour spin and sculpt class at the RAC. 

Thursday- Rest.

Friday- Rest.

Saturday- 4 miles with Rob in Fairport.

Sunday- 2.37 miles on the treadmill with arms and legs strength training. 

Total Miles: 13.37       Planned Miles: 24         

Total Marathon Miles: 161.27

So you know it was a cruddy week when Daily Mile doesn't even give you a shout out on your stellar performance. I forgot to add my treadmill miles too.

No "epic" week this week.
Way to crush me Daily Mile.

The week started out great with a yoga session on Monday! Tuesday I had a fantastic run too. I headed up to Cobb's Hill and went around it four times. Then I headed back a long way and it wound up being exactly what I needed for mileage. I felt great when I finished, my pace was faster then normal and it was even still light out.

11:37 for 7 miles with hills, I'll take it!

This counts as being light out, right?

Wednesday I had my usual class at the RAC. We did different sculpt moves this time and did some ab work as well. Thursday was a rest day because Rob and I had the Addy awards to attend. This is where our annual photos have come from.

Ready five minutes early for once!

Rob's company didn't win anything this year but we had a pretty good time. It's always fun to get dressed up and have a night out.

The theme this year was inspiration,
hence the chalkboard background.

I was supposed to run Friday, I think, but was tired and it was probably cold and snowy. When I looked at the weather for the weekend it looked like Sunday was going to be the better day, so I did my shorter run Saturday and planned 10 miles for Sunday. Saturday I ran 4 miles around Fairport with Rob. This run kinda sucked. I had a really hard time keeping a consistent pace, I blame Rob since he is faster and I always attempt to keep up or keep close. I got really tired and really winded after a couple hills and had a hard time controlling my breathing. What's up with that? Not sure what my issue was but I was happy when it was over. Later in the day we drove to Geneva and I got new shoes to wear for spinning, we also went to the Nissan dealership to check out an early lease swap option they were offering.

New car, but same car. 

I was all set to do my long run Sunday and then I woke up. It had snowed over night and was dark, cloudy, cold and windy. My mind kept telling me to skip it and to not run, but my body kept preparing for a run. I was literally putting my water bottles together and talking my self out of it simultaneously. I figured if I wasn't going to do a long run, I should at least go to the gym and do some miles on the treadmill and do some strength training. I just couldn't get out the door to run. So I got ready and struggled through a treadmill run, not even 2.5 miles. At least I kinda made up my missed Friday run, sorta. I did arm and length strength training too. I keep telling myself at least I wasn't a total couch potato and I still got my sweat on. Week 9 is in the books and we are on to double digit weeks now, about half way too. This weekend I will/should hit a new distance PR and am doing it while running another half marathon. If you are in the Syracuse area come and cheer me on Sunday! Check out the "See Steph Run" tab for more info. Girls on The Run also starts this week so I am looking forward to meeting the girls and telling you about our experiences along the way.