October Update!

Hello! I just realized it has been almost a month since I have written a post! 

Not that that is totally unusual but made me realize the new job and such has been eating up a LOT of my time and in my down time I am being a total bum. I go days without checking up and reading others blogs either. Just no time for that! 

So what has been going on?

First work. Holy cow. This is the toughest job I have had. Moved up position wise and also am in a totally new area of media then throw in the learning curve of a massive company and I am fried - but loving it! I can't believe I am just about 2 months in! Also, they are very in touch with creating a solid work environment. Please see last week - they brought in puppies (adoptable!!) to one of our happy hours (also very big on these!). 

Health wise, fingers crossed but I was at my hematologist last week and looks like my blood levels are already improving. I still feel exhausted but I think mentally I need to stop thinking it is medical and realize work, plus training, plus seasons changing (aka all the darkness) are having an effect. 

On the running front, dropping down from the marathon was 150% the BEST decision. It is freeing to not have to plan every weekend around those LONG LONG runs. I am still running long - 12ish miles for the long run on the weekend - but not having to fuel and being able to keep it under 2 hours has been good for me. I have moments of FOMO but then am like do I want to go run 18 miles...nope. The feeling dissipates. 

I'm excited to get out there and race. I do think that I am capable of running a solid race and if the cards line up coming close to a PR (1:53). But I am not in a it must happen or all hope is lost mode. I'm doing the work, varying the runs, paces and taking a full day of recovery and time will tell. 

I did toy the past 3 weeks with dropping my running days from 5 to 4. I still hit 30 miles by making one run an 8-9 miler during the week in which I do speed work in the middle. I like the higher midweek miles and also hitting paces in the midst of longer runs but to be honest kind of like running 5. And, my legs do not feel ANY more refreshed dropping a day. So this week may add back in one. What can I say, I love my running high and bootcamp just feels better with a few miles of recovery after. 

I am also loving fall temps. Ugh. It has been amazing. Cooler weather + running = heaven. Plus being able to be lazy on the weekend mornings and NOT set an alarm to zero dark thirty like in summer or risk dying in heat and humidity = fabulous! 

I even ran in the rain, wind and cold on Saturday morning and enjoyed it! Or well I enjoyed the satisfying brunch that came after ;)

And that is about all for now! I am signed up for a 5K this weekend and excited to see what kind of turnover I have. Should be a good little speed prep to see where I am at. I always do way better if a race is on the line and would love to avg below an 8:00 pace for this race but we shall see! 

Summer is Winding Down

I cannot believe that it is September. I really feel like this year has flown by and summer was gone in a blink (but not those summer temps, they are still holding strong). 

But the good news is, I have a job! I kind of lucked out in that I had an interview set up for a job I really wanted, interviewed and two days later got the offer. 

I begin on Monday which was also nice. I was able to work out a full week and then some before starting so that I could enjoy some time stress free. There is not working with a new job ahead and then not working with the stress of job hunting looming. 

I was lucky in that I had the financial capabilities to not work for a while but really wanted to. I landed a gig that is going to be both challenging and is a fantastic step up professionally. Pretty much a win, win. I am also working freelance so as of now only signed on for 3 months (also something I wanted). 

So that is what is up on the job front. 

Running has been going pretty well. Both of my long runs back from Europe have gone really well. Last week there was a break in humidity and I had a fantastic 16 miler. 

At the same time, I am having some anxiety and trepidation about running a marathon. I don't have any crazy goals (looking to PR which is breaking 4:26) but at this point I am still feeling unprepared and like it is a daunting task. 

Good thing I have more than 2 months of training left! (but really...still that long?!).

So that is basically what is going on right now. 

I'm ready to get back into routine. I dawdle with getting out the door in the mornings, since I usually don't have much of an agenda and crave the structure that work gives. 

I also have been doing entirely too much shopping. My lululemon obsession has gone berserk. There was a reason I had never bought anything prior to a few months ago. I KNEW this would happen. But if anyone wants a recommendation buy these shorts immediately.  And this sports bra.  And this tank.  Ugh. So much love. And, all on sale. 

You're welcome! :)

A Day in the Life

I have been seeing a lot of these lately. And given my life is absolutely awesome and eventful (or not...) I decided to jump on the band wagon! 

This was my Thursday:

3:00 – can’t sleep mind is spinning with how much I have to do before my long weekend. I do a load of laundry to check something off and hopefully fall back asleep

5:45 – alarm goes off – was wired at 3am and now am in a battle with snooze. Snooze is winning.

6:15 – work emails are exploding. I finally get up to get my stuff together for the day.

6:30 – cut up veggies for snacks, fruit and nuts for my breakfast and shake up some AdvoCare Spark for some energy for my run

6:45 – finally out the door – head to the bus to head into the city – decide to do my work out on the treadmill today since my stomach is feeling iffy

7:15 – NYSC finally hop on the treadmill and begin my warm-up and my legs feel like lead.

7:25 – realize with the first repeat my stomach is not going to allow me to go speedy. I decide to just run some random intervals – am unable to get below 8 min/mile without feeling like I have to stop. Decide I want to work on getting through the run without stopping so slow down to calm it when necessary. Stop at 4 miles avg 9:30 pace. Blah.

8:00 – Hop into the shower – realize work emails are still blowing up and am rushing around (although I generally am done with everything in 20 mins)

8:25 – Out the door work is a 7 block walk from this NYSC

8:30 – stop at Dunkin – the woman knows my order and has it waiting by the time I get to the front of the line. Victory! (it is the small things some times)

8:35 – walk into craziness – our news crew was gassed with tear gas and shot with rubber bullets overnight during the Ferguson protests – not going to be a calm day

9:15 – finally throw together my breakfast – whipped cottage cheese, nectarine, sliced almonds and sugar free maple syrup – I am addicted to this breakfast

10:45 – another coffee magically appears on my desk. I love my coworkers.

12:00 – start debating lunch. My lunch plans cancelled on me which means left to my own devices I won’t eat for another couple hours

12:30 – send out my crew schedule for the next month and then get vacation requests submitted for Labor Day. Good luck to me finding freelance crews to cover.

1:00 – impromptu strategy meeting. Stomach growling. Fill my water bottle and pray the water curbs hunger.

1:15 – it does not. Day dreaming about food and looking through seamless during meeting.

2:30 – meeting ends FINALLY. Officially at HANGRY status. Grab a sandwich and small salad across the street.

4:00 – Take a quick walk to see the boy and get another coffee, get back to work and I review my to do list of what has to become a priority for today I want to be out the door by 5:45 for a body pump class

5:50 – realize that my dreams of body pump have been dashed. Foiled by work again.

6:30 – miss any shot at the next class that is close to me start debating if I will just run some more miles

7:15 – order dinner for staff that is going to be working well past the end of their shift into overtime. Realize I am super hungry but really don't want pizza. 

7:30 – call it a day and decide I am not doing a second workout 

8:15 – Home and nothing looks appetizing. I start eating twizzlers and cheeze it's (role model right here) I have a shit ton of stuff to do. When I leave Friday morning I won’t be back home until Wednesday night. Long runs to think of and double check I have all my gear packed.

10:00 – get in bed, start an episode of The Good Wife (almost done with season 4, I LOVE this show!) go through my work emails and set a reminder to put on an out of office tomorrow – I plan to be unavailable barring emergencies for this long weekend.

11:00 – turn off everything and start to get anxiety about getting enough sleep. I have a bad habit of going to bed too late and struggling in the mornings. Set 3 alarms  to get up and run. Wanted to go to November Project but it is a solid hike up the west side at 120 something street – that will NOT happen. Lay in bed and realize I have to pee but really don’t want to get up. The struggle.

11:33 – last time I see on the clock before I finally fall asleep.

And that is that. Isn’t my life EXCITING?!?!

TGIF. Seriously.

Hey now, good seeing you Friday! I feel like this is a common saying lately but holy week. 

I cannot wait to wake up tomorrow at a time that does not begin with a 4 and not be in the office for 12 hours. The level that I have been functioning at on 4-5 hours of sleep has me impressed.

The good part is I have been so ridiculously busy between training and work that the week just flew on by. 

The bad news is, I am beat down, mentally and physically but powering through. Also, feeling bloated because I have been feasting on carbs, and epic amounts, at night due to starvation during the day and not getting nearly enough food in for the crazy activity level I have had this week.

I gave myself an intervention yesterday though and made sure that stopped. I puff up like a balloon and retain water on carb overload and I wasn't feeling my greatest. Happy to say the balance is back and I hope it stays that way! There will be a serious meal prep this weekend. That is for sure.

I am pretty proud though in the midst of all this craziness I am probably about to hit one of my highest mileage weeks and things really seem to be coming together for the half next weekend. 

Let's have a little breakdown of training so far this week:

• Monday - 6.18 miles - Easy pace - 9:24 recovery from the weekend
• Tuesday - 5 miles - Pace - 8:49 was going to go longer but I noticed some foot pain
• Wednesday - 10 miles - Tempo - Pace - 8:54 - as I reported this run was amazeballs
• Thursday - 4.5 miles (morning) - Pace 8:50, 6 miles (evening) Pace - 9:03
• Friday - 2 miles - Pace 9:02 - prior to lifting

I mean look at that, I am about 34 miles and still have long run tomorrow and a recovery Sunday. I'm pretty happy with how this shaped up thus far. 

Also my paces - are getting a lot better. My comfortable pace is inching it's way down. I love seeing training pay off.

Things I am not so happy with...I am having foot pain. I am in the process of self diagnosing because that is obviously the way to go. And it seems like it could be tendinitis. It only just started so I am hoping that ice and stretching can help. If it stays at the level it is at now I should be fine for the half. Running doesn't hurt per say (and also my crazy threshold for pain sometimes can be my worst enemy because I tend to work through things until too late) it's the flexing motion that hurts. 

Meh. That's all I can say about that. 

So here is to making it through just one.more.day and sleeping in tomorrow. NO ALARM for this girl. And if I wake to the clock saying anything after 7 I will consider it a victory. And lounge around gloriously in bed. There will be no rushing out the door in the morning to run. It is supposed to be chilly still so I will be waiting until mid day regardless. 

Happy Friday and for all of you racing this weekend, GOOD LUCK!!! Can't wait to hear all about it!

Traveling Fun and Workouts

Greetings from the lovely and beautiful Indianapolis!

Or, err, cold, rainy, sleety and snowy. But same thing right?

But a couple of thoughts on this city since it is my first time here:

• The sky walks - are amazing. If you don't want to go outside you do not have to (and considering it is hovering in the teens or something, I'm going with the option of not)
•  The people are seriously friendly. At lunch yesterday - the restaurant wasn't busy and our server pretty much joined us at the table (okay, kind of borders on awkward but he was nice!)
• I really want to run outside. It is nice and flat and there are some good paths. However please revert to previous posts on my thoughts on running in the frigid temperatures (and now icy paths)
• The city is pretty much an entire ad for the NFL. I would like to know the cost of the branding for Combine.

Right off the plane. Boom

Sky Walks.

Under Armour Gear. It's UA heaven out here.

I have now been here for a few days working, and life has been a whirlwind. 

Pretty much consists of meetings beginning at 7/8 working through to 7 at night, dinner and then drinks followed by collapsing into bed at some ungodly point after midnight.

I'm just trying to hold on and keep up here. Work hard play hard? Ugh not for this girl. I'm in survival mode.  These men twice my age put me to shame!

I usually turn into a pumpkin around 9pm. I live life on the edge I tell ya!

But I am pretty much loving every minute of it. I seriously love what I do, and count my blessings constantly.

I am the biggest loud mouth on having no excuses to not work out, but I will say it has been challenging thus far. My schedule is jam packed and I am having to sacrifice sleep in order to get in my running. And lifting...sorry, that has not happened, I am doing what I can.

Luckily I planned things out so that I would be ahead of the game with mileage this week if this exact situation occurred. But so far this is how the week has played out since arriving:

• Tuesday - 4 miles - intervals
• Wednesday - rest day
• Thursday 3.5 miles progresssion
• Friday - 4 miles easy

So overall not too bad. Sunday I did 11 and Monday I did 8 so there was some good mileage in there to cushion the week. But it will be a lower mileage one for me. 

I am trying to make the best of the shorter runs by doing them speedier than I would. But missing a few miles is not going to derail my training in general (and to be honest...is probably a blessing in disguise as I have really been pushing myself lately).

I struggle with finding a balance some times. I am usually going full speed all the time. Plus I have been so busy that eating much has not really happened. I am lucky if I shove down a protein bar and piece of fruit by 3pm. 

Anyone else struggle with traveling for work and fitting in your training? Vacation is a different story - I always get in my scheduled training while away since I am in relaxation mode.