TGIF - 7 miles!!

LONG RUN DONE! 7 Miles in the BAG!

It has been freezing here, really actually freezing........

See the ice?

So I have been mentally planning my run all week. I knew what route I was going to take and then had to do some real thinking about what I was going to wear. Not to look cute but to stay warm!

I layered up really well. Base layer was long sleeved poly top, fleece vest, light weight weather proof jacket. Long cold weather leggings, smart wool socks, fleece gloves, knit headband. I think I did good. I was a bit cold taking off, my fingers mostly, but after about 20 min I was toasty and comfortable.
I did an out and back route...I did better today at not looking at my run keeper every 5 min to see when I needed to turn around. That was really annoying last week. I think I only looked once and I was half mile from the turn around point. The way back was mostly at a down grade...boy did I plan well! I was very entertained by my pod cast, even laughing out loud at points, that really helps to pass the time.  At no point did anything hurt, my breathing was good, my pace was better than expected. I made it home and felt like a million bucks! I would say that was a success!

On this route, I run on an over pass and I aways feel like I am on top of the WORLD!

Work out stats:
7. 05 miles 1:07:42 time, 9:36 min mile. 32 deg, overcast, no wind. Beautiful day.

I have really long hair, down to my paints line. I have struggled along the was with how to do my hair to not annoy me when I am running. It has been easy at times and really challenging at others. I think I have finally come up with a successful plan that will hold up on the long runs (heck on the short runs too). Nothing more annoying than having hair whipping you and flopping around on your back. I have ended up with some gnarly knots in it too from letting it just fall loose, bad bad bad idea!

So here is what I do.....Low, tight pony tail, wrap around into a tight bun and secure with another elastic. Making sure to get it as tight as possible and securing the ends.
This one held up with no issue for over an hour run. YAY!

And here is a little early morning shenanigans with the wild beast and moose.

2 hour delay

I woke up this morning to an alert that the schools in our area were on a 2 hour delay. We had freezing rain over night and the roads were not safe to transport kids on. I do find our district humorous in how easily they delay school. I don't remember hardly ever being on a delay or canceling school due to weather when I was in school and we got a lot worse weather. Also, people don't know how to drive in anything other than rain...I shake my head thinking about it. Oh well, that meant we all got to sleep in. That also means I did not get my work out done first thing this morning. And that means it took some serious convincing to get me out to the garage to get it done.
I am learning that if I don't do it first thing, it can be hard to motivate. I get distracted, busy working or what ever else my day throws at me.
I did get out there before noon though, the idea of a hot shower really helped!

My WOD today was:
Warm up
10 Overhead Squats #45
15 High Pull #45
10 Push up
25 Hip Thruster on the Ball
CORE
2 min butt kicks

I did warm up a bit, hardly broke a sweat. And I was really glad I have gloves for lifting because that bar is SO cold!

Feeling pretty good, no longer as sore like last week. I think this schedule is working out pretty good.

Tomorrow is long run Friday. 7 miles and the weather is saying it will likely be raining and just above freezing. Oh Joy. I did read this great article about running in the cold. Check it out HERE.

Hump Day

Polar Vortex? Doubt it, but man is it cold!

Moose told me last night that he wanted to get up with me and skate while I did my run. I warned him that it was supposed to be freezing - literally - and VERY dark. He didn't seem to care. So, at 5:45 am he got up with me, got dressed and headed out the door. It was freezing, 24 deg to be exact. And very dark. He made it about 2 blocks and realized skateboarding in the dark is not an easy thing to do and asked if he could go home. Kudos to him for trying and getting up so dang early! 

After he headed back I had to pick it up cause I thought I might freeze if I stayed out to long. It was a good run, very pretty  pre dawn sky. I am SO thankful for my headlamp. No way I could be out running at that time of day with out it, I would have broken something by now.

Work out stats:

3.02 miles, 27:27 time, 9.06 min mile. 24 deg, DARK.

Over all good run. I do need gloves. And to not wear my hoodie. To much air flow. 

Last night I finished my Newsboy Hat. Turned out pretty good. I am LOVING it. Good timing too with the cold weather arriving.

Moose and I have the afternoons together since Beast is at Wrestling till 5:30pm. Its pretty quiet around here. But we do get in some good snuggles. :-)

Week 2, Day 2 and some extras

Another cold morning met me in the Gym today. I did get to sleep in a bit as it is Veterans Day and the kids are home....I hit the Box at about 7:30am (hey, that is sleeping in!).  My bar was so cold I had to put on gloves, I thought my hands might fall off and it is hard to keep a good grip with numb hands.

Todays Workout:
Warm up
Push press #45
Bent Row #45
Kettle Bell Swing #20
4 rounds, 15 reps
Deadlift 115# 5x5
Core

I miss my hot box from a few months ago where I was sweating before even starting my workout. Time to start bundling up better.

Yesterday was the Beast's first wrestling meet for her Jr High. It was round robin style (4 kids grouped together, each wrestling 3 matches). She did good. Went all 3 rounds in each match, went to OT in the last match. She has some good take aways for next time and what she needs to work on.

I am working on a new hat style I have never done before. It is a crochet Newsboy Hat. I am excited for how it is coming along. The pattern I have is for Newborn to Adult, so I have lots of options.

The kids are home today enjoying their Veterans Day.
We do want to thank the Veterans in our lives and most importantly in our family. Bryce Pitman, thank you for your service. We love you very much and are VERY proud of you.
Ron Stockenberg, thank you for your service. We are very thankful for the sacrifice you have made for our country.

Week 2, Day 1

The weekend was so relaxing!!!! It started with a cozy night at home with the kids on Friday. We ate and enjoyed a movie...Benchwarmers. Hilarious to my 12 year old! And pretty dang funny to me too.

Saturday was up early and out the door in different directions. Bob took Moose to his double header Basketball games (both wins). And I took the Beast to her last soccer game of the season. Win. I picked the COLD as HELL game! I froze my @ss off!

The rest of the day was spent wrapped in a blanket watching tv and movies. Somehow I got sucked into 6 hours of Hunger Games movies and extras.......

Sunday was even more chilled out as we got to sleep in! Oh heaven.

My alarm woke me at 5:45 am....I bolted outta bed, dressed and put on all my light up safety gear (headlamp, reflective headband, flasher on my hip, reflector or my arm), cued up my Balanced Bites and hit the road.....Little did I know it was 34 deg out! OMG! It was to dark to tell when I looked out the window when dressing so I had NO IDEA! Burrrrrr

Other than the temp, it was a beautiful pre dawn run. The Moon was still out and looking awesome and lighting up the way.

Work out stats:
3.08 miles, 28.19 time, 9:11min mile.
34 deg, clear, dark. Over all it was a great run, everything felt good and I am not sore!

Week one in the BAG!

Week One CHECK

That feels good to say. One down, 11 to go. First long run happened today. 6 miles easy. 6 miles is a distance I have ran a lot. I have done several 10Ks....6.2 miles. But I has been a few months since that last 6 miler and boy did I feel it today!

After the morning "routine"; lunches made and packed, breakfast cooked and eaten, kids cared for (including braining the Beasts hair) and then kids delivered to their schools, I was ready to hit the road.

Pre Run....burr

It was SO foggy this morning and a lovely 41 degrees! I picked a route I like that has very little traffic and beautiful scenery. Cued up my Balanced Bites podcast, my RunKeeper and I was off!

Beautiful foggy countryside

All in all it was a pretty easy run. Nothing hurt, I didn't have any wardrobe malfunctions, or hair malfunctions or major potty needs. I do have a bad habit of looking at my time/distance a lot when I am doing an out and back run....wouldnt want to go further than necessary! But it does get annoying when I check and I am NO WHERE NEAR AS FAR AS I THOUGHT! I did this several times. I should learn. Maybe next week I will set up my audio cues better so I don't feel the need to keep looking.
The 3 miles out took FOREVER, but the 3 miles back went pretty fast! It did help I had several down hills coming back! YAY!

Can't wait for my 13.1 sticker! Post run.

I thought shorts might be a bad plan, but in the end they were OK! I am asking a lot of these legs and feet.

I am looking forward to having 2 days "off" to let my legs heal a little. They are pretty sore. Probably more from the squats and thrusters I did on my Crossfit days than the actual running days....although they are a bit wobbly today.

In the rest of the families lives.....
The Beast has started wrestling for her Jr High. So far she likes it, she's sore  and the only girl on the team. She has her first meet on monday! She also has her LAST soccer game tomorrow morning.

Moose has 2 basketball games first thing in the morning tomorrow. He is super excited, he LOVES basketball!

The weekend will be full of chores, sports and sports pizza parties.

Work out stats:
6.02 miles, 57:58 time, 9.37 min/mile avg. Heavy fog, 41 deg.

Crossfit and Pedicures - Day 4

Almost a full week of training checked off the list! YAY me! I am really realizing how happy I am that I have set this goal for myself. It's not often I do things just for me. This is for ME! All the time I put it will pay off with the accomplishment of starting, working hard and finishing this race. Ask me again how excited I am after some of my longer runs.....in the fall/winter....in OREGON!

Today was Crossfit day. I started breaking a sweat right around 6:30am in my Box....aka the garage.

Warm up
WOD:
Thrusters w/ #45
Curl w/ #20 KB each arm
Dip
Front raise w/ #20 KB
Hip Thrusters
4 rounds of 15 each
CORE

My heart rate was high, I was sweating, total time 27:25.

My training plan and my inspiration photos!

On a fun and personal note, I went and got a pedicure today with my Pea. She is leaving for Hawaii tomorrow and wanted to get her toes prettied up so, being the awesome friend I am, I kept her company. :-) Every time I get a pedi, I think "why don't I do this more often? This is so GREAT!" And then a year goes by and I haven't had one.....I should make that a goal too...get regular Pedi's! Added bonus we got coffee first.....mmmmmm coffee, pedi and bestie......

So now I am wearing sandals and it is POURING DOWN RAIN, but my toes are cute and I want to see them. Oh the pains of living in OR!


Tomorrow is my first long run...a big whopping 6 miles. I better make sure I enjoy it because they all get longer after this!

Crazy weather this morning on my way home from brining the kids to school. Beautiful sunshine with rain on my windshield, there was even a little rainbow.