Where are you Spring?!?

All my runs this week so far (Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday) have been done on the treadmill. I am so over the cold weather, ice and tons of snow. Spring can not come soon enough, or at least warm enough weather that I can get outside and actually enjoy my run!

Monday: I did 5 miles with my last mile being the fastest. 

Tuesday: I did 8 miles and did an extra mile later that night. 

Today: I did 4 miles which went great! It felt weird running that distance, since most of my runs lately have been a lot longer!

This week is a little different then my other training weeks since I will be running my long run on Friday (18 miles).  Joe has a Marathon on Sunday so we needed to switch things up but, this actually works out great for me. Saturday I have 3 Volleyball games for the church so that gives me all morning/afternoon to rest for them.

I am pretty nervous about running 18 miles, since this will be the longest I have EVER run. I know I can do it but I am not going to lie, those miles are pretty intimidating!

-Jamie

Running in a Blizzard!

Saturday was my long run day (16 miles) - I knew ahead of time it was supposed to snow but, was hoping it would hold off until after me and Joe were done running. I also didn't want to change plans and run Sunday since it was supposed to be in the negative digits here, and I had a pretty busy day planned.

I should of known this wasn't going to be a very fun run when we started - we could barely make out the Walkway's path, since it was covered in snow and ice. The first half of the run really wasn't the bad part, my legs felt great again till about mile 8 (started feeling some pain again in my knee). My GU felt like it was working pretty good. Which I tried the Salted Caramel, which I liked and the Vanilla Bean, which I thought tasted like ice cream.

Once we got to about mile 11-12 the snow started to get really hard, and was laying on the roads really fast. Once we got to mile 14 we were back in town, and I already had ice/snow on my eyelashes and eyebrows. I was pretty happy though because I got to see some friends who drove by, which gave me some motivation to finish.

We got back to the Walkway around mile 15 and that is when the run just got miserable. The snow was pelting us in the face, which felt like needles. You couldn't make out the path at all - for all I know I was running in the grass. It literally felt like it took 30 minutes to go that last mile. I was so happy to get back to my car and warm up!

Here are a couple pictures from once we got back to the vehicles.

Thankfully yesterday I didn't have to run at all (rest day) - it was really cold! I did have a great day attending two Birthday Parties. The one was a skating party and I was so proud of my son, he did an awesome job his first time skating. I was pretty surprised at how well I did too, I haven't skated for years - it was SO much fun.

Today is my 5 mile day - which will be done on the treadmill. We are still in the negatives here, so no way I am going outside to run - the kids didn't even have school today because of how cold it is. 

Have a Great Day Everyone and Stay Warm!

-Jamie

Not a Very Good Jump Roper!

As you know from a previous post, I started jump roping 10 minutes a day to replicate running outside (since the weather and what not has been keeping me indoors). I realized I am an awful jump roper - I have the hardest time for some reason to jump over the rope, it also keeps getting stuck in my hair, caught on a passing dog - its not pretty. I do feel that what I am able to do is helping with the knee pain. I had an 8 mile run yesterday, and didn't experience any of the pain I had been feeling. I have also been stretching more, which has to be contributing to me being pain free too!

Yesterday, was my 8 mile day (second one in a row) - I don't know why but I am always so exhausted come Wednesday evening. I also ran an extra mile - I am still not 100% sure how I got it done (I was so drained/tired). The kids were also being little handfuls yesterday, so that really added to me being tired!

I also got my hydration belt yesterday and I am so happy with it!! I cannot wait to try it out Saturday - it seemed to fit me great and I love the colors of it and all of the space to carry my Gu and keys. I will update on how it held up during my 16 miler, when I post either Sunday Evening or Monday.

Today was my 7 mile run - which I did on the treadmill again (where are you Spring!!) It really wasn't to bad - but I deserve tomorrows rest day, for sure! Saturday is my 16 miler and then I get to rest again Sunday!

Hope everyone has a good weekend! I know I will but, its going to be a VERY busy one! :]

-Jamie

Week Day Long Runs.

Today was my 8 mile day - which I think is a pretty long run for the weekdays. It can be tricky trying to fit these runs in, you have to get creative. I got mine in after eating breakfast and before lunch, and honestly it wasn't a bad run. My knee wasn't bugging me as much as yesterday - so that was a plus. I switched it up a little and listened to Classic Rock the first 4 miles and Hip Hop (which I normally don't listen to much, but does keep you on a good pace) the last 4 miles. I also ran my last mile the fastest - later today I will be running another 1 to 2 miles. Tomorrow is another 8 mile day - which I am hoping to get done outside but, we shall see.

I noticed on Saturday that carrying around a water bottle (even though it was made for runners) was a pain! I kept losing all my water, and it was just to uncomfortable to hold for 14 miles. I have a Nathan's Hydration Belt that I bought last minute at TJ Maxx right before my 16 miler trail run last summer. It is a size large and it is HUGE, it kept falling off, even though I tried to "rig" it to get it to work. I finally ordered a new Hydration Belt that I will be getting tomorrow! I am pretty excited, this one will not only fit me but, I love the colors I could choose from - I ended up going with Pink/Purple/Gray. I am going to use it on my 16 miler Saturday - I hope it works good!!

-Jamie