Just a Tuesday

Did 4 by 400s. I should be at 4 by 800s comfortably right now, but it just wasn't going to happen today. Haven't been sleeping very much and am starting to feel it.

But I was pleasantly surprised today. I started my first 400 and I had to slow down for a few seconds to make a wardrobe adjustment. I've lost weight and now when I run my pants fall down :) Not complaining, but it definitely doesn't help speed training. BUT after I completed the lap I looked at my watch. I did it in 1:34 even with the slow down for adjustment! Woohoo! That's a record for me. Now I just need cut of 10 seconds from that and I'll be within my time frame for USATF qualification. That is, if I can do four of those at once after I cut ten seconds off. :) ha! Well, it's going to take time, but I proved to myself today that it can happen. Last week I was running 400m in 1;50, so I have made improvement. And it felt comfortable too. All of those factors together give me hope that I might actually make my quals for USATF. I really need to start my LSRs. I'm doing great now on my speed and drills, etc, but I really need to get a weekly LSR in. I haven't been able to because it's so much time. But I really need to start working those in.

My kids came with me to the track tonight to run and play. I have to say, my son may run like a velociraptor, but that kid can haul!

Felling great and mostly free of injury. This week I've been feeling a little twinge in my psoas. But I'm hoping to just work through it. EDS pain is unpleasant this week, but not terrible. Last week is was awful. But this week it's just annoying. :) I can handle annoying. Mostly back and hip stuff and my shoulder has been dislocating in my sleep. But that's how it goes. Whatevs.

Mom visiting!

My mom has been visiting. So i've been getting a lot done. I've got a lot of work done and I've been able to go out and run every day. I had a bit of a set back this week with both a cold and severe back pain. But my drill exercises, specifically the birddogging exercise, helped strengthen my back A TON. I feel a lot better. Garren and I are going out to run today with the kids. Next month I'll be purchasing my Rock n Roll Marathon year pass and will be registering for all my qual races. Here we go!

Piedmont Pacers! And breathing technique training.

I was accepted this weekend into the Piedmont Pacers USATF Running Club. It's out of Greensboro, which is two hours away. But it's the closest one to me. I now have one year to meet all USATF standards. And you'd better believe that was enough motivation for me to kick it in high gear. My mom is visiting for two weeks and I am getting lots of training in while I she plays with the kids :) Tomorrow, though, she plans to do some running with me :)

Tonight I ran five miles. Tonight's run was focused on breathing training. And I can feel that my lungs had a good work out! I sucked on life savers while I ran. That forced me to keep my mouth closed and breathe only through my nose.

I am so tired, but I need to do some work tonight. 'Tis the season to order window treatments :)

Post recovery

I took some time off to let a lot of things that were bugging me heal. I had designated today as my return day a long time ago. This is what the day looked like:

Train in the rain. Wasn't so bad. I ran all 6.7 miles of red loop at Ragnar in the rain. So it was NO big deal. But I was Spectacularly slow. And with the amount of time I took off I have to start my training program again. Until I get a running coach, I am using the training program designed by the Boston Athletics Association. I am doing the Advanced program found here. It was originally intended that the end of the training would fall on Richmond race day. but that isn't going to happen. I tore something in my arch and had to let that heal for two weeks. Set me back significantly. So I need to rework some things.

A few things are working in my favor: temperatures cooling, work is going really smooth, kids are finally settled in to the school and after school schedule AND I am finally losing the weight put on when I wasn't training while healing from my psoas injury for 8 months. So I'm looking forward to getting back into it. 

Back at it and feeling great! Follow my instagram or twitter @MelRunTheWorld .

Catch up

Okie dokie, here we go.

I went camping with the kids and hubs this weekend, so I am playing catch up here.

Saturday, I ran 5 miles (I was exhausted. I don't camp well).
Yesterday (Monday) I did (2) 4 x 800s and I should have rested after that, but I didn't. So
Today, I ran 2 fast miles and did some strength training.

I'm super busy with work right now getting blog posts written for the month of October. But hoping to get all that done and out of the way so I can get back to hard core training.

Added some (2) 4 x 800 pics on instagram @melruntheworld. LOL

Rain or shine!

It rained today.  The kids didn't mind. When I need to do drills on the track the kids like to come with me to play in the sandbox or on the play ground near the track. It was just a light drizzle. I did all my drills AND my core workout. Feeling great today!

I'm still taking it easy so that my arch can continue to heal.

I am continuing to do pretty well on the runners diet. What I'd really like to do, if I can find money to do it with, is go to a clinical nutritionist. When I diet I feel out of wack because I have low blood pressure and low blood sugar because of hypoglycemia. I need to find some balance.


Weather today: cold and rainy
EDS pain, some in the knees because of the weather..
Stress level: High! My assistant had surgery today and I'm pretty sure the business is going to crumble in her short absence :) She's that good. Also, one of my seamstresses is thinking of quiting and it's our busiest time of year, so I'm kind of freaking out. I like everything the way it is right now and I don't want to go back to the production end of the business.

Hoping to do a long run tomorrow night if my foot is up for the challenge. We'll see.

That's all for today.

No time to write, but. . .

. . .  I ran 7.1 miles tonight. It was supposed to be an LSR, but I ran until 9 pm and it had already been dark for about 45 minutes. I was running in well lit places and along busy streets, but I don't see well in the dark and I kept missing all the little sidewalk slants and bumps and it was going to mess me up. Felt really good though. When I tried to stop running my legs felt like they wanted to keep going. You know that feeling??

Weather: Perfect, 70 degrees
EDS pain: usual back and spine pain (My spine is collapsing on itself), but nothing I couldn't work through
Stress level: mmm. . .  probably middle ground there, 5 out of 10, I'd say. Things have picked up at work. It's probably the best month we've ever had in history. We made as much in revenue this month (and it's only the 22) as we did the first year we were open. That gives me a little bit of anxiety. . . I hope I have prepared my team enough to meet the challenge!
Overall mood: Great, very happy. Things are going smoothly, kids are happy and well. Had a very clear head when I headed out for my run. I was very focused.