"No one ever drowned in sweat."

I finally have something to report! I began my 1/2 marathon training schedule today. I felt like a slacker when it told me to only run 2 miles at an AP of 9:30, but I guess it was a good way to ease into things since I was sick last week and didn't run at all. I also completed P90X "Chest and Back" plus "Ab Ripper X" workouts. Feels great to be back!

No miles today (still following my training schedule which only has me running 4 days/week) but I did P90X "Plyometrics." You should have seen me and my 2 1/2 year old jumping around my living room. SO much fun!! 

First mile warmup at an AP of 9:45. Miles 2,3, & 4 AP of 9:07. Mile 5 cool-down at an AP of 9:45.

I felt pretty good overall. I was surprised at how easy speeding up my normal pace approx. 30 seconds was! Maybe I really AM getting faster!

Today I cross-trained by completing P90X "Shoulders and Arms". I also completed "Ab Ripper". I'm finally getting to the point where my abs are strong enough to do the more difficult exercises in that workout. I could barely get through the first 3 exercises the first time I tried it. Hopefully it will help lead to a better running posture!

Our family travelled down to my in-laws for the weekend and I was able to get out early and get a great run in. Unfortunately I didn't have a watch and was only going by the stopwatch on my Ipod, but I was able to run 6 miles in approx. 53 minutes.

I've decided that I enjoy running outside much better than on the TM, even if it's only 35 degrees. The run just goes by much faster and for some reason it feels easier to run faster. The only thing that stunk, literally, was the air. My husband's from a tiny town in central Utah and I kept thinking I was going to get sick from breathing in the smell of the livestock. Yuck!  

Oh, a random question to the few who read my blog...any recommendations for which Garmin model I should ask for for Christmas?

Sorry, I haven't posted in a while. I promise, I have been working out though! I just haven't had the time to get on the computer.

Monday, my family was still visiting my in-laws in central Utah. So, I headed outside again. My training plan only had me run 2 miles, but I wanted to make it challenging to I chose a hilly course. Since I've done about 80% of my training on a TM at only a 1.0% incline, I've never realized just how hard hills are! There were times I felt like I was crawling up those hills! Kind of discouraging. I need to get outside more.

Overall it was fun though. No stinky cow smell this time :)

I was supposed to do P90X "Plyo" today, but I woke up with a bad migrane and it just never went away. Hopefully, I'll wake up feeling better so I can get some miles in.

I took advantage of my kids napping at the same time today and hopped on the treadmill. First mile warmup, AP 9:45. Mile 2, AP 8:35. Half-mile jog/cooldown, AP 9:30. Mile 2.5-3.5, AP 8:35. Last mile & 1/2 cooldown, AP 9:30.

I'm starting to feel more and more comfortable going faster. It's still difficult and I couldn't carry on a conversation while at a pace of 8:30ish, but it IS getting easier!

I woke up early before my kids so I could get my run in. Since my husband had to leave for work early, again I was confined to the TM. It was snowing outside, so I didn't complain to much :) However, after about 2.5 miles, my Ipod died and I found myself struggling to stay motivated. It's kind of sad that my own thoughts couldn't keep me occupied, but staring at the wall was getting kind of boring. So I quit at 3 miles, when I was supposed to run 6. I did complete a "Jillian Michaels" aerobics DVD afterwards, but I still felt like such a quitter!!! Lets face it, after my Ipod is charged and my kids go to bed, I'll probably run another 3 so that my self esteem isn't so low!

2.5 miles tonight on the TM, AP 9:30. P90X "Chest and Back".

Question...if I feel like I can run more than my training schedule tells me to, should I? Thanks!

P90X "Plyometrics" this morning.  

Wanted to run a few miles on the TM this evening, but my 11 1/2 month old had other plans. He woke up screaming an hour after I put him down for the night. He's either cutting more teeth or has a sensitivity to cow's milk...I wish my husband was here more to help, but between school and work, this is how it's going to be for the next few years!

I met with the BBK's for the first time this morning. I was really nervous to run with them b/c I've never ran farther than 6 miles and I'm still pretty slow. The first 3 miles I felt pretty good but after a fairly long hill, I slowed way down and had to walk a few times. I definitely need more practice running hills! After the mile-long hill, I felt relatively good the rest of the way.

This running group is AMAZING and really inspiring. I hope to one day be able to run like they do! Thanks for inviting me again Kelli and I hope I didn't ruin your workout today too much by slowing you down. You probably didn't even break a sweat! I hope to work on getting a bit faster so I can keep up with everyone next time.

P90X "Shoulders and Arms". I was supposed to get in 5 miles tonight on the TM but rather than listing a million excuses, I'll just be honest and say I was too tired and the TM was the last thing I wanted to do. I'm SUCH a SLACKER!!! Someone PLEASE motivate me!!!

I really wish I would have gotten some miles in on Saturday because now I am sick...AGAIN! I completely blame it on my main church responsibility of taking care of a class full of snotty-nosed toddlers every Sunday. I never used to get sick this often. I'm going to try to get some rest so I can still run with Kelli on Wednesday.

After having a bad sinus infection last week that drained into my lungs, it made it very difficult to breath. It's taken forever for the antibiotics to work, but over the weekend I finally started feeling a little bit better. I'm not feeling 100% this morning, but I had to do SOMETHING!

2 miles on the TM, AP 9:45. Speedwork 4x400 at AP of 7:55 w/2 min jogs in between. 1/2 mile recovery jog. I felt relatively good during my run. I'm glad I decided to stay inside though b/c I don't think the cold air would have been good. I probably would have woken up the entire neighborhood with my cough!

P90X "Legs and Back" too. I'm going to be sore tomorrow!!!