TOL: Random Tangents

My brain is in overload these days and I am incapable of coming up with any original content so thank goodness for a Thinking Out Loud post! Of which, don't expect any rhyme or reason. 

Even though this is a short week I feel done. And it is only Thursday. It has been just over a week since we found out our network is shutting down. I have been overwhelmed by the amount of support and people reaching out. At the same time I have had a few people come out of the wood work with snarky comments and I just want to punch them.

Honestly, I will be fine. The only thing I wish I knew is if I am staying through to the true end. I helped put the lights on when we launched three years ago, I feel emotionally invested to want to turn them off on the last day. In due time I will know.

I mentioned in an earlier post that my hamstring issue isn’t serious and is mostly gone now.

In its place now however is a pain on the ball of my foot. REALLY? Doesn’t always hurt and I cannot make it hurt by pressing on it or anything. Just usually comes out when walking or running. Super fun. But do not worry, Dr. Google is giving me some helpful advice. Like don’t run. I’ve run every day for the past week, so clearly heading that advice.  

If one more person posts how happy they are for the blizzard I may scream. Because for me? This means making sure we are staffed over the weekend and arranging to put staff up in hotel rooms. NOT. FUN. I wish I had a crystal ball to know just how bad it will be.

Speaking of storm, tomorrow is my rest day. Considering I haven’t had one since last Wednesday I was REALLY looking forward to it. However, now I am thinking I should make Sunday my rest day so I can spend all Saturday and Sunday riding out the storm (read: drinking wine and watching Netflix for 48 hours). The decisions!

On one final note. I have made 2016 the year I will finally do a pull up. I have been saying FOREVER I want to be able and a couple weeks ago got the doorway bar. Then realized just how weak I was and got a band to support. I’m weak even with a pretty strong one. I think this might take until 12/31/16. Why must pullups be SO HARD??!?

With that I will end my rambling, happy Thursday. If you are in the storm’s path go stock up on wine! …or is that just me? Wine is more necessary than the bread, milk and water everyone else seems to be stocking up on. 

Half Marathon Training: 1/11/16 - 1/17/16

So from the title you may see I changed it from training for the Nola half marathon to just training. 

I will cut to the chase. Wednesday in a very shocking announcement my company (Al Jazeera America) declared that our American channel was ceasing operation by April 30th of this year. With that considered I decided that traveling in this uncertain time was not the wisest of decisions. On top of that I still needed to complete fundraising and honestly I knew I would not be able to properly dedicate myself to it. 

I need to thank everyone who had already contributed. Please know the money you donated will still go to CCFA and I am deeply touched for everyone's generosity. I just could not justify the trip and taking time off work as my days there are numbered. 

I am okay, it is business and I get it; the hardest part is that I was really growing with the company and had planned on a long tenure there. To start over again I think is the most frustrating part. I really loved the past 3 years I have been there and was passionate about the stories we covered and had the most amazing team. 

The good news is that I have signed up for The Frozen Penguin Half! Beth sent me a text that she was considering it and we both took the plunge and registered. So training on! 

Another thing - I went to PT - turns out hamstring is nothing serious, heat and stretching will help. Weaker hips/glutes probably responsible. I had planned to go twice a week but with everything I dropped it. And, guess what heat and stretching help! Who would have thought.

And with all that, here is last weeks training. Definitely light on the strength training, need to up my game again this week. 

Monday - 3.59 miles in 36:23 / evening PT + strength

Tuesday - Speed work: 1 mile warm up 8 x 400: 7:53, 7:53, 7:53, 7:50, 7:50, 7:47, 7:47, 7:41 - 1.2 mile cool down, 5 miles 46:08 9:13 pace - note to self look at the paces before next workout. This didn't feel HARD like repeats should well that is because I wasn't running the right paces. Sigh. Blame early morning still half asleep brain for that. 

Wednesday - Rest day

Thursday - Easy run - 30 mins 3.23 miles 9:17 pace

Friday - Tempo 5 miles - 44:36 - 8:55 pace - started conservative 9:15 and eased down to 8:15 

Saturday - 1 hour pace run - 6.72 miles 8:55 pace - I knew I wasn't going to go long this weekend so wanted to do one of my runs at a hardish pace

Sunday - 1 hour run - 6.15 miles 9:45 pace

Total miles: 29.69 (I seriously need to check my total mileage at the end of the week, I would have 100% run another .31 miles for an even number!)

NOLA Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon Training Weeks 1 & 2

It has been quite some time since I have posted any official training logs! Last year I was just happy to be running. As I gained back speed and PR'd all short distances in the fall I knew I could give my half marathon PR (1:53:14) a serious run for it's money in 2016. 

I am running the Rock 'n' Roll NOLA Half Marathon with Team Challenge raising funds for CCFA so that will be my first true test. 

I honestly do not think I will be there yet at the end of February but I do think I can break 2 for sure and hopefully inch down towards my current PR. 

I have been having some hamstring issues (and have now formally begun PT) which apparently stems from weak glutes/hips (tell me something I didn't know) so will be working on that. My hamstring has been bothersome since a half mid October so would be really great to feel 100%! 

And the good news is they told me I don't have to stop anything I am doing. Works for me! 

I am more or less following Hal Higdon's advanced half marathon plan. Most weeks I will be subbing in a cross train day for an easy run day to keep running days at 5 total and anywhere from 25 - 30 miles.

Trying to stay consistent with strength training (it is not all in the log, I keep my mat out and will usually do core work, kettlebell swings, etc while watching TV) as I think it helps. Plus, I want more muscles :) 

Without further ado the first 2 weeks!

Week 1 

Monday - 3 miles: 10:49, 10:21, 9:58 / 15 mins strength: squats, lunges, planks, wall sit, pushups

Tuesday - Treadmill: 1 mile w/u @ 10:30 8 x 400 with 1ish min rest light jog/walking paces 7:47, 7:47, 7:47, 7:42, 7:42, 7:42, 7:35, 7:30 .6 mile cooldown    Totals: 4 miles 38:47

Wednesday - 50 mins on the spin bike + upper body weights (8 lbs)

Thursday - 2 mile warmup at 9:35 then progressed down to 8:00 min / mile (stayed at for a minute or so) ended with 1/2 mile cool down. Total 5 miles, 45:52 9:10 pace

Friday - Rest

Saturday - High 45 at MHRC with my sister teach (go take Karli's class!): 5 min warm up 2 x 6 min hills 2 min rest / 3 x 2 min at 10K + pace 1 min rest / 3 x 1 min sprints 1 min rest / cooldown = 4.75 miles 45 mins 

Sunday - 90 min run = 9.03 miles (treadmill) 

Week 2 - aka totally reworked my week based on Tuesday's morning laziness

Monday - 3.11 miles in 30:40 + strength: squats, deadlifts, plank shoulder taps, pushups 

Tuesday - Rest (a little sore but mostly it was cold and I was lazy)

Wednesday - TEMPO: 45 mins - 2 miles starting at 9:30 easing down to 9:15 then slowly dropping the pace for the next 30 mins every 5 mins or so - ended at 8:00 but it was brief. total: 5 miles 45:05

Thursday - 3.2 miles in 31:40 - 9:52 pace + strength squats, lunges with bicep curls, more bicep curls, tricep kickbacks, planks 

Friday - Hill workout - ran to a hill a little over a mile away and did 5 x hill repeats attempting to hit 5K pace then ran back home. Total 5 miles in 45:56 - 9:11 pace 

Saturday - Easy run turned long - 9.68 miles in 90 mins - 9:19 pace - splits: 9:15, 9:24, 9:33, 9:28, 9:25, 9:34, 9:05, 9:07, 9:19, 8:58 - the weather was perfection! But I ran out thinking I would run for less than 30 mins and it turned into a long run. I hadn't even had a sip of water so the thirst was real by the end!

Sunday - Cross train super easy 90 minutes on the elliptical + some strength

A pretty solid start I think! 

I definitely need to work on my confidence as far as speed goes. I did 400 repeats today and realized I did them slower than 2 weeks ago. And they felt easier so now I know why. Look back at what you did before the workout. Live and learn. Until next time!