Tamy

Enjoyed running my first run of the year.  Did it on a rather hilly part of South OC and really pushed the pace on the uphills.  View it using my new Garmin thingy:  http://connect.garmin.com/activity/21444758

Shins a little achey on this third day in a row of running.  I didn't let myself run the 10 miles I wanted to because I thought that'd be pushing the shins too much.  I'm hoping to run another 6-8 miles tomorrow and the next day before resting for one day.  I'm really hoping this will be my first week back to 6-day-a-week workouts. 1:25 total time 

Nice slow 10-minute pace for 8 miles.  This is the first time I've run 4 days in a row since injuring myself 6 weeks ago.  But I can feel the shins complaining.  Not sure if I'll run tomorrow or take it easy.  Hope I can run; the weather these mornings is absolutely beautiful--mid 50s to mid 60s and sunny.  I didn't want this morning's run to end I was enjoying it so much.  :)

Ran super slow for 4 miles to break in my new shoes.  Shins were already sore from running the previous 4 days.  I took off my shoes to run the last half mile because I've been researching barefoot running.  The shin pain immediately went away, but my feet were not really comfortable on the hard surface.  Will keep testing that out.

I have to type something here or it doesn't get recorded?

Had a nice run with sub-9-minute splits for the last 4 miles.  (First half was up-hill and slower.)  Total time 1:18.  I would've run 6 days this week, but working 'til midnight a couple days just didn't allow for it.  :( 

Only had time to get in 5 miles this morning before other life commitments kicked in.  Makes this weeks mileage less than I was capable of doing.  That hasn't happened since I joined this blog last summer. Sigh.  I also start working an hour earlier this week, so the morning runs will have to be shorter--I'm not going to get up at 4:30 to make up the time.  I can't do that when work doesn't allow me to get to bed before midnight.  Another sigh.  It's going to be a tough few months, which is inconvenient given that I'm supposed to run a marathon in 70 days, BUT I will do the best I can.  :)

Garmin wouldn't work, so I quickly downloaded a GPS app on my phone and ran with that.  Technology is so fun.  8.55 miles in 1:24.  Beautiful 60 degrees and sunny!

Started out slow (10 min. plus) but finished fast (sub 9 min.).  Finished in 1:22.

As unpleasant as getting up at 5am is, I'm feeling more like my old self now that I'm doing 8-mile runs on consecutive days with less and less pain.

1:19

Thought I turned my Garmin off when I finished, but I guess I didn't.  So I don't have the actual time for this run.  It was around an hour and a half.  I ran some sub 9 minute splits the last few miles.  Craziest thing, out of nowhere, my old knee pain came back.  The shin was achey too.  The pains all just kind of come and go.  Part of getting old, I guess.  Other than that, this run felt fabulous on this beautiful morning before 8 inches of rain hits us next week, making running not as much fun.

Had a blast running this 10 miler in the rain.  Felt good the whole way.  Don't know why the pains come and go, but I was super grateful to have a day of no pain!

Got a late start this morning and only had time for 6 miles.  Did it in about 58 minutes.  Didn't have to run in the rain today, but another downpour is on its way.

8 miles before the rain starts back up later today.  1:19, I think.

In the rain again, but it was before the big storm hits in a few hours....

I intentionally kept my weekly mileage the same as last week even though I felt like running more.  I'm finally feeling healthy and am going to practice restraint so as not to overdo it again.  If I'm not running more than 50 miles a week by the time I taper for the LA Marathon, I'm not going to sweat it.  I'll just enjoy a 26 mile run at a comfortable pace.  BQ is NOT everything.  :)

Gorgeous morning run with view of the snowy mountains.

Didn't have time to do 8 before work and thought my legs needed a little rest anyway, so I only did 6 on a very chilly morning.

Ran a little over 8 miles at 9:45 pace for 1:22:14 total.

Kept a pretty good pace and finished in 1:18.  Enjoying not having any pain!

Could've run more but am trying not to overdo the mileage.  Can't run more than about 8 miles tomorrow either.

1:20  Felt great.  Wanted to do 10 miles but didn't have time before work.

Did the exact same run I did yesterday because my Garmin tanked and I wanted to know how far I was running.  Did it in about the same time but felt a little more sluggish today.  Only slept about 6 hours.

Felt tired again after only getting 6 hours sleep again...  Grrr.

1:17

Ran in the rain again and enjoyed my first 10+ run since Nov.

Only intended to run 8 miles today because I'm just planning to do 6 X 8 this week, but the day was so beautiful and I felt no pressure to finish sooner.  I just kept running and did 10 in a casual 1:35.

SLUGGISH this morning.  Luckily, I did 10 miles yesterday, so I'm still ahead on my mileage this week.

Felt better than yesterday, but I think I'll make tomorrow my rest day.  Felt really happy running with no pain again today.  :)

8 in about 1:14.  A little faster than usual.  As I was running, I considered the fact that I'm not doing any speed training in preparation for this next marathon. The reason is that I'm just trying to stay healthy going into this one, and I just want to get strong at running about 50 miles a week, nothing more.  But then I thought, I could at least make some of the runs I'm already doing into tempo runs.  So I picked up my pace in the second half of the run.

Don't know my time for the first half mile--Garmin issue.  But the last 8 miles, I ran in 1:09.  Can't believe I was running that fast and felt great doing it. 

My knee was aching a little after yesterday's fastish run, but I still did my last 8 miles of the week to bring my total to right around 50 for the week and to meet my goal of 6 x 8 for the week.  Yea!!!!  It was a beautiful day, and I pondered the self-control I've learned to make myself stick to a meager 8 miles on a Saturday.  I so wanted to run another 4 or 5, but I knew my body is cautioning me to take it easy.  So I just enjoyed the run while it lasted and will look forward to tomorrow's run followed by a long bike ride with my boyfriend for Valentine's Day!

1:47, a full minute slower average pace than my 8 miler on Friday, but I was trying to keep it slower, so good for me!  I didn't run yesterday because I wanted to give more of my time to my boyfriend.  We did a nice 20 mile bike ride.

Was TIRED when the alarm went off at 5am and DID NOT want to get out of bed.  5:09 I dragged myself out of bed.  When I started my run, I felt TIRED and sluggish.  Considered cutting the run short after a mile or so but knew it would mess with my day if I didn't get in a good run.  So I sucked it up and got in my 8 miles.  Felt fine by mile 5 anyway.  So glad I did it!!!!

1:17

Internet is screwing with me.  Screw it--only did 5 miles today anyway.

Ran with a new person this morning.  Ten miles is farther than he's used to doing; in fact, it's double.  But he was up for it, and he kept my pace.  For me it was perfect.  I hope he wants to do it again.  We finished in about 1:40, a little slow, but it was nice.

Did my first hilly run in the new neighborhood.  There's a big hill that's a mile up and a mile down, and I ran it out and back.  Kept a pretty normal pace on it too.  Felt fine and explored a little finding some trails that I'll check out next time.  8 miles in 1:15

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/25139959

1:15 total with 9:01 avg. pace.  I'm finding that without doing any long runs, my 8 mile runs are really too easy.  It's hard for me to keep them slow because I keep speeding up.  I hope that means I'm getting more endurance despite the lack of long runs.

Was running late so sped up and ended doing sub-8-minute milers.  Ended in about 1:14.

The shin pain came back this morning, so I cut my run short.  That felt frustrating, but I thought it was the smart thing to do.  I may even take off tomorrow even though I already took off a day this week.  I just don't want to keep running with the low-grade pain when I know it'll only get worse.  And my marathon is 3 1/2 weeks away. 

Didn't run in the morning because I needed sleep.  Had a break in my day, so I decided to get 6 miles in.  But it was really nice out, so I did 10 miles to try to make up a little of yesterday's lost mileage.  The shin was fine today, but now one of my knees is aching--it must be because it's Thursday.  Ha!  Did the 10 in about 1:27.

Legs felt a little dead.  Not too much knee pain, but I only did 5 miles (47min.).  Will try to do 10 tomorrow.  That'll make this week a 10% decrease, but I'd been keeping it steady for about a month, so a little easing off is ok, I guess.  Not really planning to taper for the marathon, so I'll try to do 50 miles again the next couple weeks before the big day.

Was ready to run in the rain, but nature cut me some slack.  It was dry most of my run, and I even took off the long sleeves.  Felt good.  No pain.  And I had to hold myself back to keep from going under 9-minute miles. 1:45 total

Hilly run in 1:14 on a beautiful, sunny day.

Didn't run yesterday because I was up too late the night before, so that was my day off this week.  Did the 8 today in 1:18.  Plan to do close to 50 miles this week but will be satisfied with 45 again.

Wanted to run 9 since I got a little earlier start this morning, but I didn't make my loop wide enough.  Oh well.  :)

I ended up not running yesterday because my shin was hurting.  It was hurting a little today on the 8.5 miles I did.  I think I'll not try to get in all 50 miles this week afterall.  And next week, I'll go down to 40 despite my original plan of no taper for the marathon.  Better to go into the marathon healthy, right?

1:33 total time

Didn't run yesterday because I can tell I'm about to have shin and knee problems.  Was going to swim instead of run today, but it rained and I thought the pool would be closed.  So I ran an easy 5 miles.  Not sure what to do tomorrow.

Ran 8 in 1:16 today.  Felt kind of weak.

Care to take my poll:  http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ZJP8ZQ3

Did 8 in 1:17 today and had absolutely no pain.

I've decided the relationship I have with my legs is the worst relationship in my life.  My legs are needy, controlling, whiny, overly-sensitive, and moody.  If any person I know were like that, I'd kick 'em out of my life.  Unfortunately, I'm already married to my legs or should I say, joined at the hip.  Ha!

1:19

Ready now to take kind of an easy week before next Sunday's marathon. 

55 minutes

Just did a couple miles to shake the dust off my legs.  I haven't run this week because my legs just feel yucky.  Marathon is on Sunday.  Will do a mile or two tomorrow to loosen up.  Picked up my race packet today and the tech shirt is too small.  Luckily, it's kinda ugly too.

Dropped out of the LA Marathon at mile 16.  Had a tight ITB that made it hard to bend and straighten my knee.  On the other leg my recurring foot pain bothered me.  There were a lot of bad factors at the start of the race that pretty much just made it not my day.  I could've hobbled on for another 10 miles, like I did in Malibu, but when it was clear I wasn't going to BQ or PR, I decided to call it a day in hope that I'll have a faster recovery than I would've if I had continued.  I'm disappointed, but that's to be expected.

I didn't run for over a week.  Just figured I needed a break.  But I gained about 5 pounds!  Better find another outlet for my calories.  I'm really going to cut back on running for a few months.  I want to do about half a dozen different physical activities a week.  I'm going to include swimming, biking, running, pilates, hiking, surfing, and whatever else I can think of.  I'll get healthy, slim down, tone up and again try for a BQ time in Long Beach in Oct. or Huntington Beach in Feb. 

1:02 Felt good. Didn't even feel the earthquake that apparently hit while I was running. :)

Had planned to swim today instead of running, but it was raining and the pool was closed.  Did 3 miles in 29 minutes.

Hey I started P90X.  Giving myself some time off from serious running.  But instead of the plyometrics of P90X, I'm going to get in some runs.  Did these two miles on the treadmill after doing a killer upperbody workout.

Did 3 miles plus a killer ab workout.

3 in 30

3 in 29

3.8 in 37 min.

3.5 in 33 min.

This 4+ miles felt great.  I'm going to slowly start building my mileage again.  Gotta get in more runs during the week, so P90X will have to take a back burner now.  But man, my arms look great thanks to P90X.

Ran on some trails near my home.

Did a quick run before work.  Trying to get back into running more days each week, but I want to do it gradually.  I won't increase distance/run and days/week in the same week.

Felt great running this morning.

Only meant to do 5 miles, but I was exploring my new area and got a little lost.  Took a couple extra miles to get back home.  It was fun though.

An easy 5 miles before work.  Started feeling a little stress where the shin meets my left knee.  Not a surprise since I've stepped up my mileage too much in the past week.  Will take it easy the rest of the week...

30 min

Did these seven miles on a trail I was exploring near my house.  Had some scary mountain lion warnings but was otherwise quite pleasant.  I ran the loop the uphill direction and really got my heart rate up for awhile.  Felt good.  Think I ran it in 1:06.

4.8 in 48 min.

31 min.

20 min run plus P90X's ab ripper.  Intentionally keeping my mileage modest.

GPS didn't work right, so 3 miles is an estimate.  Ran for about 30 minutes.  Planned to do about 5 miles but got a late start.  Maybe I'll do a longer run tomorrow.

5 after work before an abs and thighs class.

Six in 55.  My knee and foot are sore now.  :(

Did 5 hilly miles in 48 min. near my home.  Knee is starting to complain.  :(

5 in 48 min. in the morning.  Then ran a little with a friend on an indoor track in the afternoon.  My knees didn't like that.

My Garmin tanked between runs AGAIN, so I just ran the same 5 miles I did on Tuesday.  Since I had a hard pilates class last night that made my inner thighs sore, I just ran this 5 nice and easy in about 50 minutes.  Knees felt ok.

Did 5 miles after work in about 50 minutes.  Knees a little sore now.  Probably won't run tomorrow since I'm at my max for the week.  Will lift upper body weights instead.

Did a new run on a hilly loop on a warmish morning.  Felt great.

Did it in about 50 min. and will probably be a little sore tomorrow from the hills.  Knees feel fine.

Ran this before work on a cool morning.  48 min.

Ha, ha.  Today was the last day of classes.  I was tired of grading and thought I'd go for an afternoon run.  I was a mile into a 5 mile loop when I suddenly remembered I had one more class to teach.  I quickly ran back and took a fast shower and barely got to the class in time.  So I only got in two miles today.  Only need 6 more to hit my week's goal:  no problem.

Did a rather hilly 5.6 in 56 min.

Ran 3 miles around our camp site in Morro Bay.

Ran 6 miles in 60 minutes but after hiking yesterday, my legs were kind of dead today.

This was supposed to be an 8 mile run, but I did it in the heat of the day and got really hot.  I stopped after 7 miles and got a burrito and a drink and walked home the last mile.  Ha, ha.  Felt good and didn't feel guilty about cutting the run short.  :)  Did the 7 in about 1:05.

Felt sluggish today and my right knee started hurting.

Tried to swim a mile after this 6 mile run but realized I was more tired than I thought.  Only swam about 1/3 mile and then got out and worked on my tan.  Nice last day of vacation.

5 in about 48 minutes

6.2 miles in 58 minutes.  Felt good.  Been running well but shin hints at pain.  Stay away pain!!!!!!

Meant to run 5 miles, but I got to hot and walked after 4.2.

Hot at 9am!!!!

Felt great despite being 80 degrees already at 8am.

Took a couple days off to let some knee/shin pain subside.  Did this 4 and a half in 43 min.  I love running 5-10 mile runs.  Hope I don't get injured for awhile.  Love this point in my training.  I think my favorite is 6 days of 10 milers.  Still a long way from there but enjoying the ride.

1:18

55 min.

4 in 40

6 in 60

I'm not meaning to do these runs at such a casual pace, but I've been sluggish the last few days.  Could be cuz I'm running in hotter temps, though not unbearable ones.  Could be cuz I've not been forcing myself to eat as much fresh fruit as I usually do.  Not sure, but I'll keep chugging along 'til I get some more pep in my step.

5.5 miles in 52 minutes

7 miles in 1:05

Getting my mileage in early this week cuz this weekend I'm flying to Texas for my high school reunion.  Won't have much time for running.

Ran at home in Texas. FLAAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTT!

4.5 more in Texas.

My run at dusk felt fabulous!  Did it one hour flat.

6.1 in 58 minutes.  Running has felt yummy lately!  I love not being injured!

6 miles in 58 minutes.  It was hotter than yesterday, and I felt a little sluggish from yesterday's run.  It was a bit harder but still fun.  I'm trying to get my runs more regular than I've been doing.  This week is 4 x 6 miles, instead of 4 miles here, 6 miles there, etc.  Then I'm going to start moving back to 5 days a week by the end of summer.  I'm still taking the increases very slowly, but I plan to be back around 40 miles a week in a few months.

6.15 miles in 58:20.  Skipped pilates to get in my full 6 miles today.  No regrets.

in 1:00

This was my first 24-mile week since my recovery period.

6.15 in 58 minutes.  I was sluggish after doing 24 miles last week and running 6 yesterday and then walking a couple miles in flipflops to our car after a football game.  On top of all that, it was already mid to upper 70s when I ran, so I was a little drained.  Got near my starting point by 4.35 miles and forced myself to go another mile and a half.  Glad I did it.

I shouldn't have done this run.  Oddly, I injured my calf in my sleep.  It just cramped up and the pain woke me from a deep sleep.  It was very strange, and I woke with a strained muscle.  It didn't occur to me to miss my run and rest the leg until near the end of the run when I started feeling the weakness of the calf and the way it was altering my form.  This was probably the beginning of an injury.  :(

Leg felt fine after resting two days.  Yea!!!

Felt sluggish but got it done.  Haven't been sleeping well cuz too much work.  Oh well, got my mileage in this week!  And we had a cool down; I can feel fall coming.

Hit 100 miles this month for the first time since my marathon meltdown in March.  Felt tense and sluggish (stressful time at work lately) but did this in 1:03.

5.5 in 52 minutes

Ran this in the middle of the day and it was hot.

Was worried about not getting my mileage in cuz I'm scuba diving on Saturday and work was busy this week.  But I just got in my last 5 miles.  Did it in under 48 minutes.

I didn't run yesterday because I scuba dived Sat. and Sun. and my knees were hurting from carrying all that weight.  Thought it best to give the knees a rest.

 Ran this 7 miles in 1:07, and it felt good.

6 miles in an hour on a cool, rainy morning.

6.5 miles in 1:02

Worried shin splints might be coming.  But I have followed EVERY rule to avoid them, so I'm bummed.

Ran in 1:00, and it felt nice.

8 miles in 1:17.  The plan was to increase my usual 6 to 7, but I didn't plan the route in advance, and I estimated wrongly.  I had to hurdle a snake that was lying on the path.  Let out a good startled scream.  Good times.

Felt sluggish probably because of the heat, hills, long run on Tues, over working, and lack of sleep.  Finished it in 1:00 though.

Ran a little farther than I meant, but it was good.  1:05

7.25 in 1:11 felt pretty good.

Don't remember my time, but I did it pretty slowly.

Did 6.3 in 1:00 but felt kind of sluggish, probably from back to back 6 milers.

6.4 in 59 minutes.

It was over 100 degrees today!  I didn't run before it got hot so I had to wait until it got dark.  Still it was 88 degrees when I started and 86 when I finished an hour later.  Sweat like never before.  Good ol' Gatorade.

Still hot even at 6am, so I was sluggish.  Did the 6.5 in 1:05.

in 1:13

8 miles in 1:16

I felt sluggish.

in 1:09 

Felt sluggish again.  I guess cuz I'm making my first noticeable increase in distance in some time.  Rest day tomorrow.

Started raining while I was running and chose to cut it short cuz I didn't have anywhere to keep my iPod and Garmin dry.

8.5 in 1:24 in the dark.  It felt nice.  I think I'm getting over the recent sluggish hump.  Yea!

Life made it hard to get this run in.  Did only 6.7 instead of 7 or 8, but that's ok.  We'll call it a recovery week.

in 1:08

1:03

Knee is starting to hurt.

Eight miles in 1:20 after work.  Though running at the end of the day is kind of tiring, I enjoy running in the cool darkness.  I close my eyes at times and enjoy that drivers in the sea of cars can't see me in the shadows of the sidewalk, and I can't see them behind their headlights.

Intentionally skipped the 8 miler I had planned for yesterday cuz my shins were not doing well.  After 48 hours of ice and heat, they felt good enough today to get this run in.  I realized too far into the run that I didn't need to run more than 6 miles cuz I'm doing a 10 mile event next Saturday that will make it easy for me to get in this week's miles.  But that's ok; it means I don't have as many miles to get in during the work week.  Kicking my feet up now while watching the Cowboys play.

Had an accident last week and twisted both ankles.  Made me have to miss the 10 mile race on Sat. and miss my weekly mileage.  The time off was wise though; I'm hoping to get back to where I was this week.  Did this 6 miles in 57 minutes, a little faster than usual because my legs were fresh from 5 days off.

1:00  Had to walk at the end cuz my ITB was hurting--must've gotten messed up in my fall.

6 miles in 55 minutes.  ITB wasn't bothering me today, but still all those ankle and tendon issues from the fall are aching.  Hanging in there though.

in 57 minutes

in 31 minutes

Didn't run longer because that was all I needed for my week's mileage.

in 1:05

Had fun running in a new neighborhood of big hills in the dark.  Glad I had my smart phone on me.

in 1:02

in under 48 minutes.  I think I'm running faster because my body has adjusted to this weekly distance.  I'm going to start increasing mileage a bit.

Did this in 1:04

Great run at lunchtime.  Did it in 1:13; then devoured a burrito.

Did 5.1 in 46 minutes in a bit of wind.  Didn't enjoy it too much.

Proud of this run cuz I woke up with a cold and feel like crap.  Only needed to do 3 miles to break even with last month, but I wanted to keep my goal of small increases.  Ached all over, couldn't breathe well, and really wanted to quit but made myself do 4!

Interesting week.  I woke up sick last Saturday and after doing that run I went to bed and didn't get out all week except to go to the doctor for some meds.  Missed all my runs and mileage this week, but didn't even think about it while I was in bed cuz I felt so lousy.  Wisely took an extra day of rest yesterday.  Not so wisely ran in the rain today and thoroughly enjoyed it.  1:08

Overdid it a little on my first run back yesterday.  IT band would only let me do 2 miles today.

Took it nice and slow so my IT band would cooperate, and it did.

Rested 2 days and took it slow again.  Below my right knee, at the top of the shin, I have a low-grade pain that threatens to spoil things.  

in 53 minutes

in 1:20  Took it nice and slow and felt great!

Did this in 1:16.  Still felt great.

in 40 minutes

Didn't have much in me today after staying out late last night.  Got in a few miles before it started raining though.

1:17

Didn't pay attention to the time.

Hard hilly run.

Felt good on the flat trail.  Did it in 58 minutes with Fari.

Did this in 1:22 in 84 degree heat because I needed to get it in before the Cowboys game.

in 1:11

I felt weak on the last half of this.   Thinking of swimming tomorrow on my non-running day.

Don't have a time on this cuz I forgot to turn the Garmin on until I was half a mile in.  Was able to drive the part of the course I didn't track to get my total mileage.  Felt sluggish again.  Am getting tan lines from running in the midday sun.

Forced myself to go slow the whole way.  As I increase mileage, I want to do it with slow miles to keep injury at bay.  Pace was between 10:00 and 10:30 most of the way.  Felt great in the light rain.

8.3 in 1:23

Didn't run yesterday because a ligament connecting my femur and tibia is hurting.  Iced and heated all day yesterday, and it felt fine on the 8 miles in the rain today.  Still feels fine 10 hours later.  Probably will run again tomorrow.

Another 8 miles in the rain.  I really love it when I've got time to dry off and warm up and clean the mud off before I have to be anywhere.  Off to Austin tomorrow where my sister-in-law tells me that it's 80 degrees today!

Had fun exploring trails near my sister's house in Austin.  My brother is taking me to run around some lake tomorrow.

This run was more of a chance to run with my brother than an actual training fun.  We ran a loop around Town Lake in Austin.  It's a nice trail with a bunch of runners on it.  I also got to break in my new shoes.

Not sure the time on this.  Did 7 miles in 1:09, but then I took my sister's dog for 1 more mile.  He ran so fast he nearly dragged me into the creek when we were attempting to jump it.

1:24 on very tired legs.  Been steadily increasing this month.  Would have taken today off, but we're driving from Austin to my hometown of Amarillo tomorrow and won't have time for a run.  Helping my parents pack all week and move on the 31st.  May make this a recovery week because I'll lack time for runs and my legs need a break.

Ran a big loop from my parents old house to their new house.  Needed to run a good one today cuz we're starting the move tomorrow and a big cold front is coming through.  50 mile an hour winds in single digit temps will make me not want to run the next couple of days.