Triathlon - I Do That

Do I REALLY know what I'm getting in to!?

Fun Run

2.12 miles / 24:58

This was my first run since my hamstring injury 2 weeks ago. I wore my Mizuno's and didn't try to mess around with the retraining of my stride. I tried to strike with my foot forward and take smaller strides to stick with the trend I've been learning. I ran slow and walked the hills. When I started out, everything hurt. My knees, hips and back were all being big babies. ???

So I did what any crazy runner does, and stuck it out. Those issues resolved and my hamstring quietly continued to ache. I would have really liked to run 3, but figured I shouldn't push it. I came home and iced it - right now it isn't giving me to much trouble. I do believe I will refrain from running until Monday.

Barefoot Running

I have been trying to re-train myself to run with more efficiency and less injury. Some people have expressed concern that I am going to take off and run down a glass strewn highway in only my toe-nail polish.

Not.

I am trying to slowly retrain myself in these, to strike less on my heel and will be running longer distances in light weight trainers such as these.

Here's a video that sums up what I am trying to achieve. Study up a bit on the benefits of Pose or Chi Running and look to the future of injury free running!

Havelock Charity Run

10k - 1:05:33 (6.23 miles @ 10:31/mi)

Well...I guess I made my goal. Hmphf. My initial goal was to come in under 1:06 and I did that...but my super secret goal was a flat 1:00:00 10k. My strategy was to warm up slowly in that first mile, then tackle the hill in mile 2, recover in mile 3 and then bust rear in the final three to come in at or under 1 hour.

I shot out of the gate and covered that first mile in 9:54. This is such a rookie mistake, arg! By that time I was facing the Big Hill and I was so happy with a sub 10 mile that I refused to slow down. Near the top of the hill I found a woman that had a 1 hour time goal as well, and kept pace with her until right after the 3rd mile.

Hey - fastest 5K of my LIFE.

Anyway, I decided to slow down and settle in to a nice even pace to finish strong. I did my very best and since I shaved :30/mi off my 10K race time of just 8 weeks ago, I'm happy with progress.

Now it's time to buckle down, tighten the belt, suck it up, put the nose to the grindstone, and all the other cliches you can think of.

It's Half Marathon Training Time, baby!

Pain is Essential

Training for this week has been light. I have a 10k race tomorrow that I am hoping for a big fat PR on (despite a rather daunting hill) - so it's been easy does-it.

Yesterday I ran a couple of road miles in the VFF's. I've had them now for nearly a month and have worked diligently to break them in...slowly. I began by wearing them around the house, to the store, walking to the park, etc. Then doing my INSANITY workouts in them made my calves pretty sore - unfortunately, I stayed at a hotel with lots of stairs and was in a wedding wearing *gasp* high HEELS directly after. But my baby sis is worth it!

Anyway - the calves are extra special sore today, but fortunately I received my Super Sexy Calf Sleeves in the mail...those helped. And hey, most of the children refused to be seen with me while wearing them, win/win.

Back to the training.

I have my Friday Fitness class at church tonight. We've been doing Walk Away the Pounds, but every few weeks I bring something a little different and a bit more challenging. Tonight we are going to do Kenpo X. That will save my legs for tomorrow and still give me a great workout. I'll need all the help I can get - nice climb between miles 1 and 3.

Switching Gears - Again

Gee - I would love to do another month of INSANITY, but I have to stop to train for the Bill Seymour Half Marathon on September 3rd. I had delusions that I may be able to do both for a month - but I crashed real hard last week and had to take a few days of complete rest to get over it.

My brain is much more ambitious than my body.

So, I redesigned the blog, renamed it and will continue to use this as my detailed training log. Don't forget to visit my "real life" blog over at Life Is Beautiful.

Keep setting goals and moving forward!

Day 23

Hmm...no INSANITY workout today. And, I thought I was going to REST, but...

P90X - Yoga X and 2+ miles on the treadmill in my Vibram Five Fingers. Methinks I have a hamstring issue on the left leg...poor calves are really suffering and I think I have a sympathetic style ache further up. My ultra cool compression socks should be here tomorrow. Pix - promise.

So, what to do? I have a 10k on Saturday, a Half Marathon on Labor day (14wks) and an 86mi relay race a month after that. This is running's IN season, people!! I just don't have time to do INSANITY and train for the runs I am signed up for.

I loaned out my INSANITY plan to my 19yo brother...he's up for a challenge. I am going to be at the kitchen table this evening, reformulating my training plan for the month of June.

Three weeks of INSANITY yielded a faster 5k time for me and a full 1% reduction in body fat. I will definitely be doing these workouts again - maybe when running season is over and the treadmill is my only option!

Day 22

Pure Cardio & Cardio Abs

I just couldn't do it today. I woke up early, my joints were really hurting. I felt like I had had enough sleep, yet I still had a hard time making it down the stairs. I decided to do Cardio Abs (15min) first. I was hoping that it would loosen me up and help me to get through Pure Cardio (40min w/no breaks). I got through the warm up and just couldn't do it.

It's not that I felt any specific pain anywhere, just that I ached all over and felt as though a super intense workout was the very LAST thing I should be doing.

I think I will be taking my rest week early. This week I will focus on Yoga and getting a few more miles on my VFF's. I have a 10k on Saturday and feel really good about my goals. A little rest should give me the edge I need to reach them!

Day 21

Rest Day

Ran 5 miles in 55 minutes instead.

Best run I've had in a LONG time. Still wearing my Mizunos for road runs, but concentrating on that mid foot strike. I could tell when I stopped paying attention and was crashing down with my heel again. My hips and knees were begging me to stop!

Can't wait to run in my Vibram's all the time. :)