12 miles tomorrow morning

Tomorrow AM, I will be running the first of my long runs in preparation for the OktoberFest 1/2 marathon. I'm kinda a geek, but the clothes are already laid out in the bathroom (so I don't disturb sleeping hubby while getting ready), the alarm is set (and double checked), and the ipod and breakfast area all ready for me.

I'll start at 6:30 and be done by 8:40.  I can't wait!  I still am surprised I'm doing another 1/2 marathon (especially so quickly after the last one).  In 12 hours from now, I'll be a sweaty & exhausted, but smiling nonetheless.

Have a great weekend and good luck to all who are racing!

1/2 way done! And a special welcome to my newest follower!

I've reached the 1/2 way point in my 1/2 marathon training and am so psyched!  The last few weeks have been brutal with heat and humidity and my running times were decreasing.  I was getting discouraged.  My coaches told me not to fret that once the heat broke I would be amazed at how well I do.

SO....here's a point of comparison:

Last Saturday:  9 miles, 1:48, heat index 110, walked twice, 5 water bottles
This Saturday:  9 miles, 1:33, high 60s, ran the whole thing, 2 water bottles

15 minutes quicker...AMAZING!!  That is exactly the motivation I need to get me through the back half of this program.

My week:
Monday-off
Tuesday-4.9, 52 min
Wednesday-6.7, 1:10
Thursday-35 min wii fit yoga and strength
Friday-off
Saturday- 9 miles, 1:33
Sunday-3 miles, 30'28", 8X100 striders at end

A big special welcome to my newest official follower...He's been a lurker for quite some time (which I never knew).  At dinner last night, he promised to officially sign on as a follower.  Thanks EDO!  Now, let's get our oldest off to sunday school where they can learn morals and ethics, instead of focusing their dramatic energy on bribery and theft.  Wink, wink.  Hope you all had a good time last night.  Let's do it again soon. 

Marvelous Monday!

OK...so there is nothing really THAT Marvelous about today, but I thought it was a title that might inspire you to read the post.  It is a beautiful day here in the suburbs of Philadelphia...and here are a few things that I'm happy or smiling about today:

1. I am going out to dinner with my family tonight to celebrate my kids' outstanding report cards.  I have two smart kids and I don't have to cook...that makes me happy!
2. Tonight is night 4 of my son's 2-week private swim lessons...his miracle teacher (Ms. Kelly) has managed to get him to swim 5 feet without flotation in just 3 lessons.  LOVE HER!
3. My boss resigned a few weeks ago (bad...not smiling about this one) and I was a bit nervous about the transition at my largest client.  Meetings are going well and the client is accepting the new principal on the account with open arms.  YEAH...less stress in my life!
4. Today is Monday...for those reading my blog regularly, you know that means that Monday is a rest day in my 1/2 marathon training schedule.  That means no running or exercise of any kind today.  That really makes me smile!

Week 4 Complete: Recap!

Week 4 down, 10 more to go!!  Milelage is definitely getting further...but I'm still feeling good. 

Monday-off
Tuesday-4.3 miles, 43 minutes, abs
Wednesday-5.5 miles, 57 minutes, intensive core workout
Thursday-30 minutes bike, arms, legs, abs
Friday-off
Saturday-7 miles, 1:15
Sunday-3.9 miles, 42 minutes, abs

And now, we are off to the pool.  Time for some relaxing.

Wet Run!

Today's schedule called for a 70 minute training run. When we started out it was just barely dripping on us. Around mile 2 or 3 it turned into a light drizzle. No worries from me...it felt really good compared to the 90 degrees we've been running in lately.

Around mile 5, the downpour began. Again, I'm not too upset...I'm getting cooled down as I go. By mile 6, the rain is getting old. There is not a dry spot on me, it keeps making sweat go in my eyes (ouch), I'm mildly concerned about how much rain my iPod can withstand, and I'm just ready for this run to be over. Finished...Done....I've had enough!

Stats: 7 miles, 1:15. Soaked to the bone (but still smiling).

Have a great rest of your weekend!

Heat, Humidity, GO AWAY!

Yawwwwnnnn....is it bed time yet?  I have been getting up at the crack of dawn to get my runs in.  For those who haven't heard, Philly is having a heat wave.  It was over a 100 yesterday and they are calling for 100 today.  Given my commitment to my 1/2 marathon training program, the only way to beat the heat is to get out there early. 

This morning my alarm went off at 4:41.  We went out for a 5.5 mile run.  When we came home, there was not a dry spot anywhere on me.  I took a COLD shower and was still sweating.

Tomorrow is a cross train day and Friday is a day of rest.  The day of rest sounds so wonderful right now!  My legs are heavy from the run and I'm tired from getting up so darn early.  Lots of coffee to make it through today.

Week 3 complete!

One more week down...it looked like this:

Monday-off
Tuesday-4 miles, 41 minutes, abs
Wednesday-5.1 miles, 51 minutes
Thursday-30 minutes bike, arms, legs, abs
Firday-off
Saturday-6 miles, 1:01
Sunday-3 miles, 31 minutes, abs

It's been an eating and drinking fest this weekend...so I'm running just to burn the extra calories.  I'll behave myself next week to make up for the indulgences!

Weekly Recap!

This was my first week of the 14-week 1/2 Marathon Training program. My week looked liked this:

Monday-off
Tuesday-2.1 miles, 20 minutes
Wednesday-3.0 miles, 28 minutes
Thursday-30 minutes on bike, 5 sets of 1-minute planks
Friday-off
Saturday-4.3 miles, 41 minutes
Sunday-4.3 miles, 43 minutes, 5 sets of 1-minute planks

I hope everyone has a Happy Father's Day.  I surely will be thinking of and missing my Dad today.

5:30 wake up calls!

I'm pretty fortunate in that I have a very flexible job.  I haven't had to get up at the crack of dawn like I did when I worked at Centocor.  At Centocor, I used to be at my desk at 7 am and have to commute to get there.  Now, I typically roll out of bed at 7 am and take 15 steps down the hall to my office to start my day.

The training for the 1/2 marathon has caused me to have to wake up much earlier than usual!  I met Lisa at 6 on Tuesday morning to get our run in.  This morning I was on the exercise bike at 6 to get my cross training in.  I have a full day at my client today and a training session from 7-9pm.  Yawwwwnnnnnn...it's going to be a long day.

Lots of running ahead!

I signed up for a 1/2 marathon training program run by Fleet Feet. My training schedule for the next 4 weeks is as follows:

Monday: off
Tuesday: run
Wednesday: group run with rest of 1/2 marathon group
Thursday: cross train
Friday: off
Saturday: Long distance run (maxing at 2 hours) with group
Sunday: short run

We start tomorrow with a group run...here's hoping to keep myself injury free!!