Slackin'

I feel like such a slacker lately!  I have great intentions of cross training when it comes to taking time off from running for my shin splints, but a terrible track record of actually doing it.

Friday, I did get on my bike and rode about 11 miles.  The Husband was a trooper and ran just shy of 13 miles!  I was totally jealous of him.  It's so funny how much I used to hate running and was so intimidated by running longer distances.  Yet this time I wanted so badly to be running with him.  I hope that means I'm mentally ready for the half marathon??

Less than 3 weeks!!  I am so excited to get my first half marathon under my belt.  Is it weird that I have already started to think about what I'm going to do after the half as opposed to focusing on finishing that first?  I am such a planner and now that this plan is almost to an end I feel like I need to start working on the next thing.

The good news is my shin splints have stopped hurting in regular activities so I think I am going to attempt to run at some point this week.  My last run was a week ago tomorrow.  Since they only started to hurt just last Tuesday, I'm hoping one week off is enough.  If I try to run and they hurt right away, I will be stopping and adding another week of rest.  Let's be honest, I probably won't run tomorrow.  It's supposed to be under 40 degrees here again with snow overnight!  I'm mentally done with the treadmill and mentally done with the "cold" weather. 

Also, I got this beaut to try out!

The beautiful Garmin Forerunner 220.  Conveniently in my favorite color (purple, hard to tell in the picture)

It's kind of torture getting new and exciting running accessories and then not being able to try them out.  I also got an iPod shuffle so I can eliminate a bulky armband but still listen to music. 

Now for the bad news.  The Husband went on a run today and was still having the foot pain.  I googled to find out where runners most often get stress fractures.  I sent him a picture of a foot with it showing where that occurs and he said that's exactly where his foot hurts.  Womp womp.  Time off for The Husband.  So we are looking into water jogging!  Fun fun?

The Husband also got a nifty Garmin (the men's version of mine) and when he did run today we tried out the new Live Tracking feature.  It's pretty sweet!  I'm not sure what he had to do to make this work, but it sent me an email with a link to a map that showed where he was.  It also gave me his average pace, distance, time, and elevation gained.  It refreshed every minute or two minutes to show where he was at that point, so it's not exactly a constant moving dot on the map like I expected.  Next time I'm going to try to open the link on my phone to see if it's practical to use when I'm not able to sit at a computer to track The Husband running.  Seems like a nice safety feature when running alone!

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Anybody else a overplaner?

What races are you training for?

Any advice for water jogging?

The Dreaded "Injury" + a PR

Since our long run on Sunday, I've only gotten one more run in this week.  It was a good run at least!  Monday was mandatory rest day.  Tuesday I was still feeling sore since my body isn't used to all the miles in one day.  I figured on doing 3 to 5 miles.  I started running with The Husband and instantly started out too fast.

The Husband was looking fly in his new orange shirt.  He unintentionally matched them with his gray and orange shorts and sunglasses with orange lenses.  On top of that, he was testing out my hydration belt which also happens to be orange. 

Orange you glad you are running?

Once I told The Husband to just go ahead without me, I tried to settle into a better pace.  That's something I always have issues with at the beginning of a run.  Usually on long runs I work hard at telling myself "just settle into the run", but Tuesday I was feeling the need - the need for speed!

After I did the first mile in 10:29, I tried to slow myself down a little bit so I could run further.  Once I did a full lap of the trail we were on (not dirt trail, we haven't found any good real trails around us), I realized I was over half done with running a 5k and decided to just go for it.

Mile two wasn't super speedy yet since I didn't decide to try to push it until the end of that mile.  I ran the second mile in 10:21.

Mile three felt hard!  But at the same time it felt so good.  I've never done a tempo run, but that is kind of what I imagine one to be like.  The pace felt hard, and I wanted to give in, but I just kept telling myself "I'm stronger than I think I am" and pushed through it.  I could sustain that pace for longer still, but I didn't want to.  Once my phone said 3.1 miles, I went just a few steps further in case my program wouldn't register it as a 5k unless it was past 3.11 miles (technicalities).  Mile 3 was done in 9:27!  That is fast for me!

All in all I ran my fastest 5k I've ever recorded.  31:28 for 3.13 miles.  I've never ran just a normal 5k race so I'm counting this as my PR for now!

The bad news is, later that night I felt the shin splints kicking in.  I was having issues with shin splints back in January and February.  Being that I haven't ran consistently for this long ever, I wasn't really positive how to deal with them.  Of course I would ice.  But I didn't want to be a pansy and just stop running because of my "injury".  I didn't feel injured. 

Homemade ice bags

I took it easy for a week or two and ran just a few times over that time period.  Then we went on a 2 week vacation to Australia with the best intentions to run while there, but we only ran on the first day and the last day.  So I had a forced two week break.  Once we got back and started running again, I felt great! 

Can I go back yet??

4 weeks of feeling great with running and now back to the shin splints again.  But now I'm in a real cunundrum.  Our first half marathon ever is only 3 weeks away!  So what do I do???  Our last really long run is this weekend, 11-13 miles.  While I want to run that, I'm not sure it would be in my best interest.  After that, the following weekend starts the taper.  So do I take two weeks off now (with cross training instead)?  Do I keep going with the training knowing I can take a 2 week break after the race since I don't have any other races on the schedule right away?  Do I just run a couple times a week and make them lower mileage? 

I really don't know the answer to this.  The Husband is dealing with an issue of his own with pain in his foot.  It worries me that he has the start of a stress fracture going.  I don't really have any reason to believe this other than that I've read they are common in the feet. 

Oh the desire to run that I've never really experienced until now with the logic that says to not run!  What a mess. 

And to end on a happy note, sushi!  Nom nom nom...

 

 

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Any advice on what to do with my shin splints??
How many people coordinate their outfit when running?
Favorite sushi?

First Blog Post Ever!

Welcome to my blog!  As this is my first post, I officially have zero readers right now and feel like I am writing this to no one! Hopefully that will change soon :)

Yesterday The Husband and I went on our second double digit run ever.  We ran 10 miles at a new to us trail on the other side of town.  

The Husband grabbed my phone and I didn't know what his plan was.  Sadly, this is my only picture from our run!

More importantly, it gave me a chance to try out some new gear!  We hit up the Underarmour Outlet store on Saturday.  Love this new top I have on in the picture.  Also, I feel super nerdy with the hydration belt but at the same time it also makes me feel like a totally hardcore runner.  Are they one in the same?  Maybe.

The run went fairly well.  I am aiming for 12 minute miles on my long runs.  Totally not a fast runner by any means but then again I have only really been running consistently for 10 months now!  I keep trying to remind myself of this when I get frustrated I'm not running sub 10 minute miles.

If I eventually get one of those fancy schmancy Garmin watches, maybe I'll post pictures of my splits.  For now, you will have to trust me that they were around 11:45 give or take some seconds for 7 of the miles and 3 of the miles were over 12 minute miles.  Those were the miles I decided to walk when eating as I am not coordinated enough to run, unzip my pouch, pull out nutrition of choice, tear open nutrition, rezip pouch so I don't lose any food, and then munch away while also drinking water, and doing all of this while running.  Yeah.  Not happening.

Anyway, by mile 6 my legs were already feeling super tired.  Also, right after mile 4 at our turn around, the map promised us there would be bathrooms at this park.  They lied.  The bathrooms were locked.  Worst feeling ever when you're not even half done!  I think that's what I'm most looking forward to with running our first half marathon (the Indy Mini), is consistent port-a-potties along the route.  Never thought I would say I'm looking forward to a port-a-potty.

I think it's always demoralizing when you do an out and back but then it wasn't far enough so you actually have to run past your vehicle for another 0.8 miles before being allowed to turn around and head back for it to finally sit down.  You live and you learn.

The Husband and I thought about going home and taking an ice bath, but we ended up stopping to eat on the way home at the Noodle Bowl.  By the time we got home I was already cold from the sweaty clothes.  I despise being cold so there was no way anyone was putting me in a tub of cold water.  Filled with ice.  The Husband tried it after we threw a 5 pound bag of ice in the water.  That lasted probably 30 seconds.  I don't blame him.  

Took some time with the foam roller later that night but I am still feelin' it today!  I always wonder how much worse it would feel if I didn't roll the night before.  I am really bad at doing it anyways but at least I make sure after a long run to get it in.  New goal?

Favorite combo of nuts everrrr

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How do you hydrate on a long run?
Ice bath?  Yes or no?  Any tips?
How often do you foam roll?
       - for me, once a week is a good week