WK 11 HM training-new goal race added in the schedule!!!

Its almost taper time!!
This upcoming week marks my last hard week of training before MB half. This was another quality vs quantity week. Quality won. Heres a glance at last week:
Monday-rest
Tuesday-7 miles
Wednesday-7 miles including 5 mile goal HM pace
Thursday- rest
Friday-6 miles including 6x800
Saturday- 12 miles
Sunday- rest

Monday was an elective rest day. My youngest still wasn't feeling 100% so he stayed home and slept like a frat boy on a Monday morning

Tuesday was a busy valentines day. Wild man was feeling better from his ear infections so he was off to preschool. He tells me he has 8 girlfriends. The shirt was fitting.

I managed to squeeze in 5 miles on the TM and later that night at the soccer fields I got in 2 more. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are late practice nights so this will be my view for the next 3 months during the week:

Wednesday  I was able to go to the monthly pub run. I met my friend Theresa a little bit early and we did 3 miles before the group run and we finished the workout with the group. I was supposed to get in 2 miles HM pace, 2 miles 10k pace and 1 mile 5k pace but it didn't quite happen that way. I got in 2 miles at HMP, and the other 3 faster than goal HMP. My only excuses were that 1) I didn't know the route, 2)it was dark and I forgot my blinkie light, 3) The guy I was pacing with was still recovering from the 100 miler he did the week before and the other guy didn't know where he was going either...but I still got in a good run so I cant complain.

I woke up Thursday morning with sharp right knee pain so I didn't run.

Friday my knee felt better, so I taped it up and was good to go.I had a great TM workout that didn't feel great until it was done.800s are my LEAST favorite speed workout with 1600 repeats a close second. But I got those 800s done and at a pretty speedy clip, pain free.

Saturday I met Theresa for a long run. We ended up doing 2 mile warm up, 8 miles at her HMP and 2 mile cooldown. I'm glad I had company on this run, as I wasn't feeling the long run mojo. Misery loves company, and the miles went by a lot faster with a partner in crime. My knee felt great until mile 11. it felt like it had a catch in in that needed to pop but it wouldn't. The feeling eventually left and as the day went on, my knee went back to normal.

The rest of the weekend was spent at my daughters soccer tournament. Coach finally put her at offense and she scored a goal in each game. It was beautiful weather

Now in other news, I officially signed up for a goal race this summer......in ICELAND!

My husband qualified for the world cup for Highland Games, which is held in Iceland this year(only the top 50 in the world are invited-he is ranked 3rd in the masters division and 27th worldwide)

We leave in June and what better way to celebrate than sign up for a race??

While I signed up for the Midnight sun run 5k, I can switch to the 10k or half at anytime.

I'm actually excited to train in the sweltering summer heat and humidity as I know that going from Charleston weather to Iceland weather will feel amazing and running should be easier there.

This will by my first trip over seas since I was 4 years old and first ever race in another country.

Anyone have any advice or tips on running over seas??

I’m linking up with Holly at Hohoruns and Tricia at MississippiPiddlin‘ for their weekly wrap link. Check it out here. I’m also linking up with Courtney of Eat, Pray, Run, DC. You can check those posts out here.

HM wk 9- quality not quantity

This week wasn't the greatest due to my youngest being sick. But what workouts I did get in were quality based. Typically I try to do 3 main running workouts per week-
speed work on the track,
a tempo run
and a long run.
This week I had to cram 3 workouts into 2. I doubled up on Saturday and combined my long run and tempo together. Here is last week at a glance:

Feb 6-12th
Monday-rest
Tuesday-5 miles
Wednesday-rest
Thursday- 8 miles including TM ladder of 400,800,1200,1600,1600,1200,800,400 with 400 jogs in-between
Friday-rest
Saturday 12 mile tempo with 7 miles @ faster than goal HMP
Sunday- 4 miles easy

Tuesday I had to drag myself to get out the door to go for a run, I was feeling off but ignored it. Wednesday I skipped track because I just felt under the weather. Wednesday night my youngest woke me up with bad dream. He crawled in bed with us and 30 minutes later had a coughing fit that made him throw up in our bed. Nothing wakes a parent up faster than the sound of puke. He went back to his own bed and When he woke up that morning he was running a fever. Knowing that 3 of his class mates at preschool were out sick with the flu didn't help any.

After lounging on the couch watching countless episodes of bubble guppies and blaze and the monster machines on Thursday,my little guy was fast asleep. I took that opportunity to sneak in the run. I did the first ladder faster  than goal HM pace and did the second ladder at 10k pace

Friday was more resting with little man, more couch lounging and trying to get his fever to go down and stay down. That night he was up most the night complaining of an earache. Saturday we were at the walk in clinic. It was NOT the flu (thank goodness!) it was a double ear infection.

I did manage to get up really early on Saturday before the family woke up to get in a run. When the alarm rang I actually turned it off, rolled back over and told myself I would just do a TM run later that day. Then I got out of bed, walked over to my dresser and stood there for a minute, still contemplating on whether I should get my butt out the door or go back to bed. Knowing my friend was already up and running gave me that push to finally get moving. I am so glad I didn't sleep in!
I got in 12 miles- 3 easy, 3 at goal HM pace, 3 at 20 seconds faster than goal HM pace and 1 at 10k pace, (which was more like a 5k pace) and 2 mile cool down.This run gave me a boost of confidence for the upcoming half marathon, as I was able to maintain these paces on very tired legs. (19 more days until race day btw---eeeek!)
I was starving by the time I got finished. Best recovery snack ever:

Little Debbie Snack cake with Nuun!
Sunday I was able to get a deep tissue sports massage. um yeah. It hurt.

Harris Teeter is conveniently located by the massage place so afterwards I made a beeline to sports nutrition isle and grabbed a few honey stingers. I've never tried these before and I was either really hungry or they were really good. I'll be adding these into my post run snack bag.

 

And my dog had a play date with one of the puppies that was born in my home a few months back. it was a perfect match!!

Here is the picture of Tilly on my kitchen table when she was a baby:

Here she is now:

I love being able to keep up with all of my babies. So glad they all are thriving in their new homes!!!
Anyways, hope all have a great valentines week ahead!
Here's to a happy healthy week!
Do you have any Valentines day traditions?
What's your go to post workout snack?

I’m linking up with Holly at Hohoruns and Tricia at MississippiPiddlin‘ for their weekly wrap link. Check it out here. I’m also linking up with Courtney of Eat, Pray, Run, DC. You can check those posts out here.

Wk 8 HM Training- shifting gears

This week was about focusing on the half marathon and incorporating the longer intervals in speed work.It was a busy week in life with several dentist, dr appointments and soccer practices/games but this is what I managed to squeeze in:

jan 30-feb 5
Monday- rest
Tuesday-5 miles
Wednesday 7 miles including 6x1200 @ goal HM pace
Thursday- 5 miles
Friday- rest
Saturday- 13.15 miles
Sunday-5 miles easy 1 hour jumping at indoor trampoline park

Spring Soccer season started back up again and for the next 3 months the soccer fields will be my home away from home. I have never seen my daughter so happy to be playing again. She looks forward to each and every practice and lives to play her games on the weekends. This girl eats, sleeps and breaths soccer and has developed such a love for the sport. I love seeing this!


Tuesday I grabbed the dog and we were able to get some miles in.
Wednesdays track workout was 6x1200 @ goal HM pace. I was able to go faster than goal HM pace and it felt good but so weird shifting gears from really fast 400s/800s below goal 5k pace to goal HM pace. I felt I should have been going faster but I also have to learn how to pace myself for 13.1 miles of racing. I am NOT a distance runner meaning I only race a half marathon about once a year. 5k is my favorite distance. This year I am being wild and CRAZY and will be doing the half marathon distance 2-3 times. I am also jumping in on a 10k race, which is a distance I have only raced twice in my life. What's happening to me?!, lol!!!
I may or may not have some outside influences........

A pleasant distraction from the evil oval was that my friends foster dog went into labor and was having her puppies. After every interval I would check my phone for new text messages and pictures..

5 healthy puppies!!!!

4 girls, 1 boy.
3 goldens, 2 black.

(We are thinking the daddy must have been a black lab?)

Thursday another run with my dog. She loves being my running buddy! Only because she knows she will see her (much older) boyfriend towards the end of our run (He is a 9yr old Sheppard/Rottweiler mix and acts like a puppy when he sees his 18month old GF)

Thursday night I also made the decision NOT to race on Saturday. There was a local Half marathon and 5k that I had my sights on. I was debating all week on what I should run. Should I chase the 18xx for the 5k? OR should I do the half and use it as a tempo run- run easy the first 6 miles then go the last 7 @ faster than goal HM pace? turns out I opted to do a group run with friends. I don't trust myself enough to NOT race a race, especially because the course is flat and fast and I knew I would get caught up in trying to place...

I am glad I didn't race on Saturday.
 I woke up with a headache and not in the mood to run. I did manage to suck it up and meet the group for a long run. Amy was able to get the word out  about doing a group run on the trails. It was nice running with the crew!

 I did not tempo but kept an even steady pace. It was 36 with wind chill of about 28, but wind gusts were up between 10- 25 mph which totally sucked. (not the cold but the WIND-my nemesis!!!!) I am so thankful I had a great group of gals to get the miles in with!

Mid run selfie!

We ended up sticking together the entire way. Amy and I stopped at 13 and B and Theresa got in 15 (B did 20 total)
A large majority of our track crew will be at myrtle beach race next month. A few are doing the full and the rest are doing the half. I am looking forward to a major party AFTER the race! (26 days away but whos counting?)
After the long run I skipped coffee and bagels and had to scoot home. I bought a new dryer and it was supposed to be delivered. My daughter had her first game of the season. The score ended up being 0-0 but it was a GOOD game.

Even though it was a beautiful day, I FROZE!!! I wore a toboggan, gloves, a blanket and 4 layers of shirts plus a jacket.I never warmed back up after the run, even after a hot shower. It was still fun watching my daughter play.

Sunday I skipped  a few TM miles and ended up going to the indoor trampoline place with the kiddos.
Amazing how much of a workout those trampolines are! my fit bit automatically calculated 41 minutes of "sport" activity.  I'm glad today is a rest day....
Just a few more quality workouts to do before the big race.
Hope all have a great week ahead!!!!

I’m linking up with Holly at Hohoruns and Tricia at MississippiPiddlin‘ for their weekly wrap link. Check it out here. I’m also linking up with Courtney of Eat, Pray, Run, DC. You can check those posts out here.