Hitting My Goals: Fitness and Fun!

The past six weeks I've challenged myself and developed new perspective on my athletic opportunity! I've always been "a runner." I ran to relax, to think, to let off steam, to lose weight, to get in shape. Afterall, I love running! But I always ran at a pretty steady pace, and I was comfortable with an idea that I would never run any faster. Longer, sure. But not faster. And not necessarily "better." Then I ran the Birch Bay 1/2 with very little "training" (remember I was just 7 months post c-section). I realized that with some training and pace work, I could make some serious improvements. I didn't really start training then though. I focused on building my base, finding time to squeeze in workouts again, and losing the rest of my pregnancy weight.

Then I ran in the Mt Si Relay, and my perspective changed completely! I ran 8 miles at an 8:38 pace -- something I had never done before, nor contemplated before! I realized that not only could I improve form and increase distance, I was not challenging myself to run any faster. And I could go faster!! Here I am taking off on my second leg:

So I identified two goals:

(1) Fitness and Fun (*Run, Ride, and get to a point where I am really able to really get out and play with my kids!) and

(2) Run Faster!

... and I jumped into a training routine (fashioned together from a few online tips, a great friend who has coached runners, and mostly by "what worked in my schedule and seemed like the most challenging fun").

I'm super happy to say that conquered Goal #1! I've been working hard but more importantly, I'm having a LOT of fun! I've been running and riding and sprinting and climbing! And I am reaping the rewards! I am down to a size 2/4, and I can play games like "Monkey in the Middle" with my kids and give them a run for their money - without running out of breath! I am absolutely able to play! And play we do! I love every minute!

Eli and I at the Mt Si Relay

Goal #2 I also know that I've hit. I can tell in my training runs. But the real test is in just two and a half weeks! I'm aiming to finish the San Juan 1/2 Marathon June 5 in 1:51 (an 8:30 pace). [*My best prior time at that distance was 1:58, a 9:02 pace.]

San Juan, here I come!

Here's my training log the last 6 weeks if you're interested:

4/6 - 2 miles flat, sprint up Taylor Hill (walk the flats), run the stairs, run down, 2 miles flat (Boulevard)

4/9 - 2.6 @ 10 min/mile (Padden)

4/10 - 8.3 @ 8:38 and 7.1 @ 10 (Mt. Si Relay)

4/13 - 1200 @ 8:34 (400), 400 @ 7:30, 400 @ 8:00 (200), 800 @ 8:00 (200), 200 @ 7:30 x 3 (200 after each), 200 @ 8:00 (Treadmill) (Recovery Run @ 5.0 mi/hr)

4/19 - 2.6 @ 8:32 (Padden)

4/20 - P90X Abs + P90X Chest and Back

4/21 - 800 warm-up, 1200 @ 8:13 (600), 800 @ 8:13 (400), 400 @ 7:47 (200), 800 @ 8:00 (400), 400 @ 8:00 (400), 400 @ 7:47 (1 mile) (Recovery Run @ 6.0 mi/hr)

4/22 - 4 mile flat; later rode the trails with Kerena

4/23 - Rode the trails 2.5 hrs with Kevin

4/26 - Rode the trails 1.5 hrs

4/27 - Ran 5 miles ~9 min/miles

4/28 - Rode the trails 1.5 hrs

4/29 - Ran 8.5 miles (1/2 road, 1/2 trail) at 9:40 pretty steady. Able to chat the whole time

4/30 - Rode the trails 1.5 hrs + P90X Abs

5/2 - P90X Chest and Back

5/3 - Ran 5 miles with hills, slow (Yew Street) (10ish min/miles)

5/3 - P90X Yoga

5/4 - Rode the trails 1.25 hrs with Kevin

5/5 - Ran 10.5 miles (1/2 road, 1/2 trail). Hills in the first 4 miles. First two miles warm-up 9:30 pace, then 3 miles 9ish, then varied 10-10:30 for the next 2 miles (felt like I'd hit a wall and especially sluggish mile 6+7; also had headwind at this time b/c along the water for most of it), then last 3 miles at 9:30ish.

5/6 - P90X Arms and Shoulders

5/7 - Rode the trails 1.5 hrs + P90X Abs (with Owen)

5/8 - Ran 5 miles (Padden x 2). Aimed at first and last at 9:00 min pace, middle 3 at 8:30 pace.

5/9 - Rode the trails 1 hr

5/10 - P90X Chest and Back

5/11 - Insanity Pure Cardio (40 mins)

5/12 - Ran 6 miles at 9-9:15 pace. Flat, road (office to Zuanich and back).

5/13 - Rode the trails 1 hr with Rebecca

5/14 - Ran 12.8 miles. Hills up first 1/2 mile, down next 3 miles, then relatively flat next 9ish, then hills up 3 miles, down last 1/2 mile. Aimed at 10 min/mile pace and hit it pretty dead on, finishing in just under 2:08. (had a fast mile or two going down and a slow mile going up, but averaged out)

5/15 - REST (a little sore, but not bad; had a hard time sleeping Saturday night b/c legs were jittery)

5/16 - No soreness! But resting.
5/17 - Easy 3-4 miles planned.

Race: June 5 - San Juan 1/2 Marathon
Goal: Sub 8:30 min/mile pace