Roxymama's 5k to Marathon, Time to Collect Another Castle

[SarahDisney]

I also run alone (just me and my music), but since I run in a park, I don't want to talk to myself out loud because of the other people. So what I do is try to sing along with my music (but not aloud). If I'm having trouble keeping up with the music, then I ease up a bit. If I can sing along to everything except the rap (I can never rap), then I know I'm at a comfortable pace. Which is part of the reason why I only put songs I know really well on my running playlist.

 

[roxymama]

I actually have a weird habit from my old days of rowing. After a big sprint, we would kinda keel over our oars (being held in our laps by our tired tired bodies) and clap our hands together. It was our way of non-verbally cheering because we were so spent. So when my app says "X miles achieved" I literally will stop bend over and clap my hands...then continue on to cool down walk. I KNOW my neighbors must think I'm nutty. Oh well. At least I'm not doing like an Usain Bolt stance at the end of my runs.

So I guess now I know it's ok to still be exerting myself, that I don't have to run super super slow, but I just have to make sure that I can still breathe and talk. I think this will help me tonight. Although mile 3 through 4 are going to be super slow anyways I think just based on how my jelly legs feel today

 

[roxymama]

I think I'm catching my daughters cold right before we go on vacation to the lake on Wed. Ugh!
So this weekend I did run my 4 miles, but I ran it Saturday morning instead of Friday night. And I averaged 13.67 because I took .25 mile walk break in the middle of each mile and ran at around a 12+ pace. I probably should not have ran at all, I think I napped for a solid 2+ hours both days this weekend while my daughter napped too.
I can't remember the last time I had fevers but I did this weekend.

So my coach plan to run 3 miles yesterday was scrapped. As was the plan to run 3.8 miles today.

I would rather be happy and healthy for my vacation. I've worked really hard all year at work and think I deserve the chance to be healthy so I can have fun this week coming up. So I'll get back on the saddle either during vacation or after, whichever makes the most sense for my body.

In happy other news, my hubby is on week 9 day 1 of his C25K and is rocking it. He ran 3.26 miles this morning while me and the babe were being couch lumps. I'm super proud of him. Our 5k we run together is Labor Day weekend and I hope I'm totally healthy by then (I should be!)

 

[SarahDisney]

I hope the cold goes away soon. It's definitely rough to get sick right before a vacation, so take good care of yourself and hopefully you'll be back to 100% in time to have an awesome vacation!
As much as I'm sure it was hard to skip the runs, I think it was definitely a good idea - feeling good and taking some time for yourself has to take precedence over the running sometimes!

Have a great vacation!

 

[roxymama]

I hope the cold goes away soon. It's definitely rough to get sick right before a vacation, so take good care of yourself and hopefully you'll be back to 100% in time to have an awesome vacation!
As much as I'm sure it was hard to skip the runs, I think it was definitely a good idea - feeling good and taking some time for yourself has to take precedence over the running sometimes!

Have a great vacation!

Thanks Sarah! It's just basically lingering today so I think staying inside was the best thing for me to do. I'm just trying to not beat myself up over missing so many runs. I'm in a teeny bit of a feeling sorry for myself spiral so I'm gonna try to talk my way out of it.

I have noticed that I may have bitten off more than I can chew with the plan I picked on my app. I thought I could make time to run more than 3 days a week, but this has me running almost every single day and I unfortunately run out of daylight past about 3.5 miles (sometimes sooner.) I may have to go back to a twice during the week and twice on the weekend cycle with the long runs on the weekend not during the week...or some format like that. And just use the general ideas from the nike+ coach app as a guideline. Being a working mom of a very young child and running just does not link up with running 6 days a week. On a normal day I see her for maybe 30 min max in the morning (a lot of times less) and 2.5 hours at night before she goes to bed. That's it. 3 hours with my kiddo every day total...I feel terrible if I leave sooner than her going to bed just to get a run in before the sun goes down.
I feel like I could totally do a 10k (just not fast) but I'm not seeing how I could ever get to training under my belt for a half or longer. Maybe I'm just being a gloomy gus. There was a time I didn't think I could even find 20 minutes to run back when I started.
Is anyone in the same boat, struggling to find the time to run when there aren't enough hours in the day? I may have to just put my big girl pants on and run my miles on a treadmill at the gym again and go to bed late.
Early mornings are just not in the cards for me right now because my work suffers when I do not get enough sleep. I already wake up very early just to get ready and go to work as it is.

So I think maybe I'll cut back to 4 days a week running. I'll try to figure out how to do that. And then I'll stop beating myself up so much. And I'll have fun on my vacation.

 

[Ariel484]

Thanks Sarah! It's just basically lingering today so I think staying inside was the best thing for me to do. I'm just trying to not beat myself up over missing so many runs. I'm in a teeny bit of a feeling sorry for myself spiral so I'm gonna try to talk my way out of it.

I have noticed that I may have bitten off more than I can chew with the plan I picked on my app. I thought I could make time to run more than 3 days a week, but this has me running almost every single day and I unfortunately run out of daylight past about 3.5 miles (sometimes sooner.) I may have to go back to a twice during the week and twice on the weekend cycle with the long runs on the weekend not during the week...or some format like that. And just use the general ideas from the nike+ coach app as a guideline. Being a working mom of a very young child and running just does not link up with running 6 days a week. On a normal day I see her for maybe 30 min max in the morning (a lot of times less) and 2.5 hours at night before she goes to bed. That's it. 3 hours with my kiddo every day total...I feel terrible if I leave sooner than her going to bed just to get a run in before the sun goes down.
I feel like I could totally do a 10k (just not fast) but I'm not seeing how I could ever get to training under my belt for a half or longer. Maybe I'm just being a gloomy gus. There was a time I didn't think I could even find 20 minutes to run back when I started.
Is anyone in the same boat, struggling to find the time to run when there aren't enough hours in the day? I may have to just put my big girl pants on and run my miles on a treadmill at the gym again and go to bed late.
Early mornings are just not in the cards for me right now because my work suffers when I do not get enough sleep. I already wake up very early just to get ready and go to work as it is.

So I think maybe I'll cut back to 4 days a week running. I'll try to figure out how to do that. And then I'll stop beating myself up so much. And I'll have fun on my vacation.

So...I lurk more than respond. But let me just say...in my opinion...

IT IS OKAY to run twice a week. Or 3 times a week. Or 4 times, or 5 times, or 6 times. There is no rule that you HAVE to run a certain number of times per week. You will see people say here and other places that you *need* to run a certain number of times a week to "be a runner" or when training for half marathon or a marathon, but they are not all-knowing running gods and, more importantly, they are not YOU. YOU know best what works for you and your schedule and you body.

I have run 3 marathons (1 as part of Goofy and 1 as part of Dopey) and they were all on a 4x/week plan - this one. I had people tell me that it wouldn't be enough mileage, but FOR ME, it was. I'm currently trying out a Galloway plan that is 3-4 days per week of running for Dumbo. Lots of people have successfully used Galloway plans for half training - that's 3 days per week (I'd recommend adding 1-2 days of cross training if you can - I need to do some kind of cross training to keep from getting injured). This is my favorite plan for getting ready for a half - it's 4x/week + 1 day of cross training.

All that to say...if you want to start training for longer distances you DO have options. If that app is not right for you right now, that's okay! Just look into something different.


Sorry for getting in a soapbox there.

 

[roxymama]

Thanks Ariel for posting that. I think I needed to remind myself that I'm doing this running thing for me and for fun and health, etc. I got a little caught up in the "try to be as fast as humanely possible...how do I get faster...how do I run longer...how do I get a PR" competitive trap.

I'm going to first get myself into a better frame of mind (not a sad sack one..funny how quickly that happens when sick), maybe after a day of kicking my feet up on the beach tomorrow. Then maybe go for a run with no "goal" while on vacation with my hubby...just a run or two for fun. And then once my head is clear and I'm back to being more positive I will set a new game plan that is not too unrealistic but also still enough to push me to keep getting out there (which was the whole point of this journey...to actually get out there.)

 

[SarahDisney]

I consider myself to be a pretty laid-back runner, so take this with that in mind, but ... until a few months ago, I was running twice a week. I just started doing 3 times every other week at the beginning of the summer with plans to move to 3 runs every week starting in September or October. I don't think I'll ever do more than 3 runs per week.
I do this because I know I won't want to go out there every day. I'm slowly getting myself used to 3x/week because I know that's a little harder for me. I don't think there's a set number of days that you have to run per week.

There are so many different plans out there that I think it's easier to figure out how many days of running works for you and find a plan that works with your schedule.

I think training for a half marathon is hard to think about at this point. Even though my planned first half is a year away, there are still days when I freak out about how I'm going to find time to run for 3 hours. But I'm sure that when it gets closer, and I've been running for close to 2 hours, it won't seem so bad.
Also, most half marathon plans I've seen only have 1 long run each week - sometimes it's easier to find 2-3 hours somewhere in your schedule once a week than it is to find time for 2-3 hour-long runs.

In terms of missing time with the kiddo - that's definitely hard. I don't have kids, but growing up, I remember not seeing much of my dad because he worked long hours. But ultimately, you have to take care of yourself too - running sets a great example for her, and as long as you still have some time with her, I think it's okay to miss out on some mommy/daughter time a few times a week. From what you've said here in the past, I think she is (usually) one of your biggest cheerleaders - so once she gets used to it, I don't think she'll mind if once or twice a week Daddy puts her to bed so that Mommy can go out running. That allows you to go out earlier sometimes (and you can balance that with putting her to bed and going out later once or twice a week).

 

[Ariel484]

Thanks Ariel for posting that. I think I needed to remind myself that I'm doing this running thing for me and for fun and health, etc. I got a little caught up in the "try to be as fast as humanely possible...how do I get faster...how do I run longer...how do I get a PR" competitive trap.

I'm going to first get myself into a better frame of mind (not a sad sack one..funny how quickly that happens when sick), maybe after a day of kicking my feet up on the beach tomorrow. Then maybe go for a run with no "goal" while on vacation with my hubby...just a run or two for fun. And then once my head is clear and I'm back to being more positive I will set a new game plan that is not too unrealistic but also still enough to push me to keep getting out there (which was the whole point of this journey...to actually get out there.)

I TOTALLY know where you come from. I had the exact same thing happen to me earlier this year (posted about it somewhere on the Disneyland thread)...for me, I was so focused on my times and getting faster that the joy was completely sucked out of running, to the point where I couldn't motivate myself to get out the door because I dreaded it so much. I seriously thought about quitting, which stinks because I really DO like to run.

Again, sorry for the long post before...but having gone through a similar thing earlier this year I just have so many feeeeeelings on this topic.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

I think I needed to remind myself that I'm doing this running thing for me and for fun and health, etc. I got a little caught up in the "try to be as fast as humanely possible...how do I get faster...how do I run longer...how do I get a PR" competitive trap.

This ruins running for many people. I am very competitive and have to remind myself all the time to ease up. I am doing this because I love it, not to win races. It is easier to love running when the pace is relaxed enough that the runs feel great.

 

[roxymama]

I'm back!!! I will write more later but our lake vacation was so fun. I got to run with my husband for the first time while my family watched our DD and we talked the whole time. I did an exploratory run of the streets near the lake with the big cottages/houses to look at. When I got home I explored the college nearby by running through it. So I added a lot of fun and made it more about exploring and less about time/pace. And guess what...I ran a pretty fast 5k today by just exploring that college. So I'm in a pretty good frame of mind right now. The new plan is Tue/thur/ sat/sun. Week nights for short evening runs. Weekends for longer exploratory runs. I'll use my Nike coach as a guide for when to fartlek, tempo, or just comfy run, etc.
9/6 is my next race and I'm excited now that I've got a new attitude on. We will see if it lasts or if I'm just in happy vacation mode still.
Also I ran today to Disney music instrumentals

 

[SarahDisney]

Yay for having a new attitude! It sounds like vacation came at the perfect time and worked out great!

 

[roxymama]

Well my new attitude toward running is good, but I completely skipped the first day of my Tue/Thur/Sat/Sun plan because I let life get the best of me. But I'm actually totally OK with it. It was hectic Monday evening with the kiddo, followed by hectic morning, followed by crazy work day, followed by hectic evening and at 8 I had a choice to go to the gym (it was very dark out) or do nothing at all. I picked the nothingness.
But because my husband is amazing and super motivating (he's doing great running every MWF in the mornings) he really got me to get back to it. The flowers brought home last night, cleaning the dishes and baking me muffins was also very very very nice of him.
So I did what I haven't really done in forever...I woke up after 5am for working out purposes. It felt just like going to those crazy early crew practices of my college days. Groggy and not sure if I was even awake...I headed out.
My coach app called for a 2 mile run that included strides and that felt like a good short amount of running to test this new concept of running, then showering, then getting ready, then getting the baby ready, then work. It was suprisingly not that bad! Am I tired right now? YES! But I also don't have it hanging over my head for the rest of the day and to be honest, I'd probably be this tired anyways. We are only talking about waking up a half hour early.
I do not know how people who train for longer distances get up early enough. If I was running for 50+ minutes I'd have to get up before 4!! Yuck!

So now to the fun stuff.
BUNNY LAUNCHING
My husband and I have made this term for when you run past someone's yard and a rabbit darts out of it's little resting spot and then keeps hopping to the next yard, but in the same direction you are running and it's like you are running together...until it figures it out and goes into a bush or something. Squirrel launching is also fun, but usually shorter lived.

I also realized how many people in my neighborhood have motion sensored porch/garage lights. And instead of running from shady spot to shady spot during the sunny parts of the day...I'm was running towards the lit up parts of the sidewalk instead.

And final thought of the day. I like this weather for running. It is just a false alarm though as all Chicago weather is. I know it will get warm again next week...but this weather gets me excited for my Sept and October fall 5ks

 

[roxymama]

I finally registered this morning for the Pumpkin race officially. And my hubby is going to do it as well!! I even signed up for the added "Tough Pumpkin option" for myself so I will be one of the crazy ones carrying a pumpkin through the fields and corn maze. You better believe I will choose the smallest option as they will have them up to 12 lbs...but I've seen pics of people carrying much more reasonable ones.
I'll add in a training run one of these weekends holding something as practice.

AND I just bought an orange sparkle skirt! (Hey, it was a smart buy because I'll wear it again to the Ditka Dash and it will look cute with my Chicago Bears t-shirt.)

So now I have some different goals in sight. Wow, I have a lot of Fall races. Cautiously Excited!
9/6 Women's Mag Mile 5k to try to run a solid "race" and this time do a better job finishing strong without "wimping out" (like my last downtown race.) It's potentially going to be hot again...so I am better prepared for what to do before, during and after. I'm not trying to PR but I'd love to just run solid all 3.1 miles if that makes sense and not mentally "give in" to the "I'll just walk a little" think I've been known to do. If I PR that's fine...but I'm being realistic (I'm gonna wear my pink sparkle skirt FYI)
9/20 Great Pumpkin Race - just for fun, I'm really excited. Goal is to finish with pumpkin & myself intact and to have fun. My first "trail" type race. (orange sparkle skirt!)
9/26 Cougar Run 5k - this one I'm gunning for a PR. It's flat, it'll be cooler, and it's across the street from my house. I'm gonna push myself on this one for sure (in a smart way.) My PR to beat is 30:32. I think it's do-able but also a definite challenge. (maybe no sparkles?)
10/3 Ditka Dash 5k - it's un-timed and involves lots of beer and food and a bunch of our buddies...so this one will just be for fun. (orange sparkles!)

My plan is to run 4 miles tomorrow morning. And then go find some pumpkin coffee.

 

[roxymama]

Guys, I've been taught my whole life to be humble and I've got catholic guilt in my blood and I know pride is bad, etc etc etc...BUT

I just ran a 5k in 29:35!!!!!!!


I'm so proud of myself for plowing through all the mental doubt and ignoring the little devil on my shoulder telling me I could let up or walk at the certain parts of my run. It helped that I knew it may rain any minute. I was at 9.47 avg pace at the end and stayed right near there the whole time. I'm going to try for 4 easy miles tomorrow. Then take it pretty easy mileage wise during next week and then Sunday is my next race.

I may have some cheesecake for dessert later tonight after all

 

[Kriii]

Sounds like you are doing an amazing job! Your hubby sounds wonderful! Had to laugh about the "Catholic guilt" comment! So true!

 

[SarahDisney]

Congrats on getting below 30 on your 5K!! That's awesome.

I think it's always okay to celebrate your achievements ... it's not pride, it's celebrating and sharing your awesomeness!!
But then again, what does a Jewish girl know about Catholic guilt...

 

[roxymama]

Not too too much to report on the running front this week. My hubby was out of town on business so I was a couch lump all the way until last night. Thankfully I had the good sense to get out there and run before the sun went down since he was home and snuggling with my kiddo on the couch watching Mickey cartoons.
I always question myself on what I should do pre-race week. I ran an awesome race pace 5k distance on Saturday and then had not run at all since then. So I decided I'd do a good fast 2 miles just to have my legs remember what that felt like but not to get to sore or tired before my race.
My time for 2 miles was 19:31 at 9:42 avg pace. I could have kept going so that makes me feel good.
I stretched and stretched just in case.

I probably will run 1 easy slower miles on Saturday morning and do some walking just to keep the legs active...because my legs are tired this morning and I don't want them to be too tired for my race Sunday. It's gonna be hot again 93 high, so probably high 70's at 7am (but HUMID) so I'm in super hydrate mode from here until the race. I am kind of excited to go to the Expo tomorrow for packet pickup with my kiddo and hubby. Last expo I went to I had to be in and out and back to work on my lunch break and it did not lend itself to browsing or shopping.

My race plan:
Keep a consistent avg. pace under 10:00 if possible throughout. But avoid going out too fast from adrenaline (sub 9 off the bat killed me a couple times before.) Set my app to give me .25 mile updates to keep me consistent.
No walking for water break just keep moving...dump that water on my head if needed.
Don't walk at all during third mile. Basically no walking.
Push myself the last .5 miles.
Get at time that starts with a 2! If that's not possible, get a time sub 30:32. If that's not possible, get a time...any time My big goal is really just not to walk at all and see if I can do that.

Now WATER time!

Sidenote: Because I've been being so good about hydrating this week in prep I was up all night going to the bathroom. It made me think of Frozen, but instead I was thinking "My Bladder is Awake, so I'm Awake!"

 

[Kriii]

Roxy, as a non-runner I must say how totally impressed I am with your dedication! Running is TOUGH! Great job!

 

[roxymama]

Thanks @Kriii
That really pepped me up. I'm in "tomorrow is race day" nervous mode and that lifted my spirits!!