Mental Game

This week's training has been all about mental conditioning. It is not that we planned it this way, but it just happened that I have been more mentally challenged than physically challenged during the work outs. All three work-outs were on the treadmill. I am so happy that we have it, but it is more

Monday I warmed up with a 9 minute mile and then did 4 miles at 8:34-8:41 pace. I felt great and the only "negative" aspect was the fact that it gets pretty warm in the room when I run so I sweat like crazy. I was happy to report five mile work out to the coach.

Tuesday was a tempo run. I duplicated last week's run and warmed up for 10 minutes and then I ran for 20 minutes at 7:54 pace. Overall distance was 3.51 miles.

Yesterday's run was an interesting one. I was planning on running for six miles. I couldnt get my butt out of bed at 6 am so it was destined to be another treadmill run. It gets tricky to do longer runs while the kids nap since there is no guarantee how long they will sleep. And I made the mistake of waiting for a while before starting my run, so Saku ended up walking to my room after 2.5 miles. I stopped running and Prison Break, handed the iPad to Saku and put Yo Gabba Gabba on for him. For the next 2.7 miles, I just stared at the wall in front of me. I barely even run without music outside so this "no distraction" run was hard, but I did it. I didn't run all 6 miles, but finished at 5.2 miles. However, I felt good about it. I know I can physically run 6 miles and longer, so this mental challenge was good. The "old me" would have stopped running when Saku walked into the room, but I didn't let it be an excuse to stop the work out.

I also put away the scale. I wont weight myself for a while. I was getting really frustrated because the numbers wouldn't get smaller even though I am looking and feeling a lot better. So I will just concentrate on getting faster and stronger and hopefully when I do step on that scale again, the numbers will look good as well. On my last weight-in, I was between 131 and 132 so we will see what happens as my training gets more intense.

Weekend Wrap Up

Friday's run was a stroller run. I decided to just go for a run and run for 30 minutes. I usually run for a distance and obviously try to run it as fast as possible or at least I have a goal pace in mind. This time around, I just wanted to run for 30 minutes. I headed out about 30 minutes after dinner and it was a good thing that I was just going to run for 30 minutes while pushing Eerika. After two miles, I started to wonder if my dinner would come up. Fortunately, it didn't.

The jogging strollers tires were flat so it was harder to push. I ended up running 3.26 miles in the 30 minutes with an average pace of 9:12.

1.9:18

2. 9:07

3.9:04

3. 9:44 (0.26 miles)

Saturday morning I woke up and my legs just felt achy and I was tired. I had planned on doing six miles so I knew that if I wanted to run outside, I would have to get up early and run. Well it didn't happen. Once the kids went down for naps, I was debating between running and just hanging out with Troy. The coach even gave me an OK to take a day off. BUT i didn't! And I am so happy about sticking with the plan and jumping on the treadmill and running for six miles. It is my longest run on the treadmill. My pace was between 8:49 and 8:34 for the entire six miles. So pumped about this!

The first week's total was 21.5 miles!

Wednesday

Wednesday's workout wasn't great. I didn't expect much since I was just going out for an easy run. The weather was terrible. It was so windy. When I was heading east bound, I had to push so hard in order to just keep moving. I had planned to do about four miles, but dirt started to fly so I figured it was safer to go inside.

I ran 3.26 ( plus about 1/4 mile that didn't get logged in because I forgot to turn on my watch)

1. 9:09

2.9:16

3:9:08

Nothing great, but I was happy to get some miles in and stay consistent with my training.

The First Week

This week has felt like the first week of what I would call "running seriously". I am excited. I am also feeling little bit like a wanna be, but I think I will feel like that until I do my first race and feel like I am getting faster.

Monday's run was 4 miles (+ 0.3 mile warm up)

1.08:33

2.8:35

3.8:46

4. 8:32

average pace: 8:37

I left the house at 06:45 and it was little too warm by the end of the run. So my mouth was super dry but otherwise, I felt fabulous.

Tuesday's run was a tempo run. (total of 4.54 miles)

10 minute warm up at 9:24/mile

20 minutes at 7:55/mile (goal was between 7:42-7:45)

10 minute cool down at 10:34/mile

The tempo was hard. And the heat got to me, again! It was also humid so I felt sticky. When Troy told me about the run, I didn't think I could keep up that pace for 20 minutes and while I didn't hit the goal pace, I am satisfied and proud of myself. So much of running is mental so I need to re-program my brain to believe in myself and my body.