Pine Belt Pacers Forum

Oops! Sorry Ginny, I just realized I babbled on your training log!!

Tues. - walk 30 min
Wed. - 9 miles with Amber @ Canebrake. This was a TOUGH run for me today. We ran @ 3:30 so the heat "got me." This is NOT my favorite time of year to run. It is HARD to adjust to the heat and I really do not enjoy the struggles this time of year. Will muddle through.....

Audrey - If you find a trail run, let me know, I might be interested. I will be training for the Country Music half and the Renaissance half in Ridgeland in June. So those are 2 options for you, and we could do some training together. I will definitely be running some 5ks.

I basically train year around. I look at all of the race calendars and pick out some key races for the year, which for me would be marathons. Then I fill in the rest of the year with "other races" that fit into my training for the marathon. For marathons, I train for 16-20 weeks. I do not have as much experience with half marathons, but I have run some leading up to marathons, or after marathons, and I will be running 2 coming up. Currently you are "in shape" for the half marathon distance so what I would recommend that you look for a race to focus on, and continue with your distance runs (8-12 miles) every other week. If you find a definite half marathon or 20K, then I would recommend going over your distance in training. For example, for a half marathon, I would prefer to get up to 15 or 16 miles in training. If you do not have a goal race, then just try to continue with the 8-12 mile long run, every other week. (maybe 8, 10, 12 every other week, and start over 8, 10, 12 until you find a race to focus on) This will help you to continue to develop and maintain your endurance. For me, I need a race on the schedule to keep me motivated, and to keep my training moving toward a goal.

Let us know what race you decide on.
I am looking at trying to get into the St. George marathon. It is a lottery and I think they draw for the lottery in April, so I will not know my true plans for a fall marathon until then, but I am definitely planning on a fall marathon.

You are on a roll - keep it up!

Thurs - walk 30 minutes
Friday - jogged the St. Thomas race. Best race I have had in a long time, NICE AND RELAXED,ha ha, and everyone beat me. I jogged a 1 mile warm up and then jogged the race. 29:31. GREAT job Jamie and Jamie's helpers. Raul - thanks so much for putting together the race results. We appreciate you. I really enjoyed meeting Chris and Jenny and visiting with many of the new runners Lori, Jill, etc., and all of the other pacers .

Sat. - Today, I ran the Shamrock run. I thought we would be running in a down pour, but we managed to get the race in without much rain. Today I ran 23:47 (3:07 miles on the Garmin - after talking with Audrey, we started a few feet off.) Even with adding a few seconds for the other few feet, this time is a few seconds faster than my time for the Run For Love. As long as I am under 24:00, I am ok, but I would like to continue knocking off a few seconds each race for a while. To be continued....

Ginny - jenny and I enjoyed talking with you and some of the other pacers yesterday. Thanks for the marathon tips. I may be bothering you sometime soon fir some more tips. We are planning on going down to mobile for the 10k so we will see you there.

Chris

Sun - walked 30 min at the Gonzales, LA convention center while Chad worked the boat show.

Monday - 6 miles total - 5 mile tempo run @ 8:06 pace, 1 mile c/d @ 10+
Finally, this tempo run was a little easier today. The temp was a little cooler today and I managed to complete the tempo run without cursing the whole way.
Tues - 3 + total today. Jogged 2 miles and then ran 12 X 15 seconds with some walking recovery between each.
Wed. - jogged 2 miles EASY am. 11.6 miles pm - met Amber to run the Bonhomie loop. It's been a couple of years since we have run this loop. I thought it would be nice to run something different, but the mind plays tricks on you. You easily forget what you are getting in to. This is a tough run, especially @ 3:30 in the afternoon @ 77 degrees. (all of that adds up to huffing and puffing the whole way for me) I have to remind myself, what doesn't kill you, makes you stronger - I hope.
thur. - yoga @ Kelly's - good class. After class, Kelly and I decided to go to the trail to run. Thanks Kelly - she agreed to go to the trail because I was zapped after the Bonhomie run. 5 miles easy
Fri - walk 30 min
Sat - Margie was in town from CO. She came over to see the house remodel, and for a run. We ran 8 miles starting just after 7:00 am. Today, Kelly was running her 18 miler in preparation for the Country Music Marathon. I went to meet her around 9:10 to run the last 7.5 miles with her. Both runs were great, with great company. I think I like lsd runs after all.
Sunday - walk 35 min.

Ended the week with 41 miles running, around 4 miles walking, 1 weight lifting session with push-ups, ab work, back extensions, squats, etc. and 1 yoga class.

Ginny, you are running long, strong, and fast!! This week was a bust for me. We went to CA to visit with my boys before they ship out to Iraq and Afganistan. I am glad I am not training for something specific this week, as I am not a good traveler, and I am very jet lagged. I am still trying to figure out my next training race and then get on a specific training plan. So, for now, I will just jump into the next 5K. Anyway, hope to see you Tues. at Thames, as I FEEL THE NEED, FOR SPEED!!

Audrey - I am planning to be at the track Tues., if nothing comes up. I too feel the need for speed, I've been missing it.

Hey, what about the ATR. You are ready for it. We are going to have a big group and would love for you and Charles to be there.

Monday - walk 32 minutes after a LONG day of work. (7:30 pm)
Tues. - Thames track - ended with 6.75 miles. After a mile warm up with Janis, Vicki, Dawn, and Audrey, - Audrey and I paired up to run 10 X 400 with 400 recovery laps. We averaged 1:46 for the 10. We had to battle a strong south wind on the west side of the track, but we managed to get it done. I was glad Audrey was there to keep me going. Good workout! I am hoping that I talked Audrey into going to Mobile this weekend to race. She is ready for a FAST 10K. Mike and Eric were also at the track doing there regular Tues. night workouts.

Wed. - jog 4.25 miles, lifted weights, ab work, back extensions, push-ups, etc.
Thur. - walk 30 min. Played 2 hours of volleyball for the first time in 15 years, scary. I had a blast. Forgot how much I loved the game.
Fri - walked 30 min.
Sat - 11.5 miles total today. Considering my recent 5ks, I wasn't expecting great things at this years ATR. I thought I would run around 49-50 minutes, worst case, ended up running 52:46 Garmin time, (not sure what the official time was.) I arrived to downtown around 9:00 and started warming up around 9:10. When I opened the door to the car, the warm humid air was a shock, even though I knew the forecast for the day. I started warming up, and realized my 10k time was getting slower, before the race started. I started the race and immediately was struggling to run 8:00 minute pace. I wanted to run around 7:50 pace, but it was not going to happen on Sat. I ran the following: 8:03, 8:02, 8:17 (by the 5k I knew I was done for the day), 8:29, 8:45, 8:57, 2:10. I ended up averaging 8:28 pace which is 20-26 seconds slower than my recent tempo runs. Kelly and I ran 4 miles after the race to run off some race frustrations. Ha Ha Sat evening - walked 41 minutes with the family in Baldwin County.
Sun- walked 36 minutes with my sister, Linde.

Ended the week with 22 miles running, around 10 miles walking, 1 yoga class, 1 weight lifting day, with ab work, push-ups, back extensions, etc., and 2 hours of volleyball (the volleyball was the best part of the week).

Monday - 8 miles - wanted to do a few tempo miles, but it was not to be today. I guess I am still tired from the ATR.
Tues. - 7 miles am
Wed. - remembering "the love of the run" The plan was to get in 15 today in preparation for Country Music half. Most of my long runs, and many of my other runs have been a struggle in the past weeks. I have a tendency to just muddle through the tough periods hoping and looking forward to better days of running. Today was a much better day. It was beautiful this morning, the sun, the blue skies, the super green leaves. It made me remember why I do all of the running. My running time was not anything great, but I did feel better for the first 10-12 miles. The final 2 were really tough, but that is typical for me. I enjoyed the cool morning. When I made it back to the house, Chad had cleaned the house, was cooking breakfast, and had a recovery drink ready for me. "LIFE IS GOOD." I do not think this is the end of my spring running struggles, but it was nice to remember what I am looking for, through the run. I feel that I need a running break,(4 weeks - no running) but at this point I am choosing to muddle through. This is a day by day decision. At some point, I will choose the break instead of the struggle or I will break out of the yuck. For 13.1, I averaged 9:15 pace, the last 2 miles brought my average down to 9:22 for the 15 miles.

Thurs - yoga @ Kelly's and walk for 36 minutes with Chad.
Fri - jog 4 miles easy
Sat. - I realized Friday evening that the St. Charles United Way Bridge run was Sat. morning. I had been contemplating running the Tunnel Run 5k in Houma, but it started at 2:00 pm and I preferred the earlier start of the Bridge run, also, I thought it would be fun to run over the MS River. The race started at 8:30 with the temp around 60 degrees. I haven't been running very well and the race was over the bridge (1 mile uphill) so I had no pressure to perform. It has been a long time since I have gone into a race not expecting anything. It was fun and relaxing, well, the downhill part was fun and relaxing. I ended up running 24:48. NOTC reported around 1800 runners/walkers and has advertised the race as the largest running event to go over the MS River. Fun race, plenty of beer and refreshments afterwards, highly recommended. (ran a total of 6 miles today).
Sun - driving back to MS today, I decided to do my walking at the Lakefront in NO. I started around 5:00 pm and it was hot just walking. I walked for 1 hour. When I made it back to MS,I decided to lift weights.

Ended the week with 40 miles running, approximately 6 miles walking, a 20 min easy bike ride, 1 yoga class, and 1 weight session with ab work, back extensions, squats, etc.

Monday - yoga @ Kellys. After yoga, Kelly and I headed to the trail for a 5 mile run, she was lucky to be doing a recovery run from her 20 miler over the weekend, and I was unfortunately there to do a tempo run, ("only fun when it's done"). I managed to run 8:12 pace for the 5 miles, but it was hard, the cool weather helped a lot, but it is still HARD. I ran another mile to cool down.

Tues. - Thames track - 6 miles total tonight. Vicki, Audrey and I ran 1 mile warm-up, 6 X 800, and 1 mile cool down. Audrey and I have been running our track workouts together lately, but now, I am too slow and she is too fast. She is getting faster and faster. Audrey averaged around 3:40, and Vicki and I averaged around 3:50.
There was a nice group at the track doing various workouts from 200s to mile repeats, to jogging. Ironman Steve even showed up to loosen up a little from his Sunday half ironman and he jumped in for a couple of 800s.
After the track workout, I played volleyball from 8pm-10pm.

Wed. - walked 33 min.

Thurs. - walk 35 min. and played volleyball from 8:00-10:30pm
Friday - feeling sore behind my knees from the volleyball, not sure why, but that seems to be the only place that I have noticed any soreness. 9.5 miles with Amber today.

Sat. - volleyball tourney (we came in 3rd place), but most of all it was a blast, love it. walked 58 minutes pm
Sunday- 8.5 easy miles to finish my goal of 30 miles for the week. (doing a little taper for the Country Music half)
Ended the week with 30 miles running, around 8 miles walking, 1 yoga class, 2 nights of volleyball, and Sat tourney.

Monday - 5 mile tempo run on the hills. averaged 8:14 pace. I felt really good about the run today for several reasons. 1 - I almost bailed on the tempo for today, but as soon as I headed out the door with Chad, I decided to go back to my original plan for the day, which was tempo. I have to get the tempo done on Monday, because it's the hardest run of the week. 2. I ran on hills and keep a good pace. 3. It was around 75 degrees, which is hot for me. 4. I ran 8.5 miles yesterday. Chad ran the first mile with me and the last 1.5 miles. It was nice to have him run with me. This is my 6th week to run consistent tempo runs. Still the least favorite run of the week, but I can finally run them without constantly having thoughts of quitting running forever. The first 2 weeks, that is what consumed my thoughts for the entire run. Now, I can do them and feel good about the accomplishment.

Tues. - easy bike for 30 minutes with Chad and Linde.
Wed. - 10 mile bike ride on hills with Linde.
Thurs. - 5.5 miles total - 1 mile w/u, hill repeats - 6 longer hills (around 1:22) and 6 shorter hills (around :53 seconds). Then 8 X 15 seconds fast, then a c/d. Bike 12 miles on the trail, easy, but steady with Linde.
Fri- Jog 3 miles easy - bike 15 miles easy with Linde on the trail.