Sunday, January 31, 2010

Days Go By....

Week 4:
Week’s Running totals: 50.08
Running Total for 2010: 189.45
Weight training: 2
Swim: a little

Whew, week #13 to Boston is complete and I’m glad that’s a wrap. Along with January. Not sure about the rest of y’all in frozen tundra’s (that’s not you, Megsie – brat!) but January was one long and cold month! I’m glad to turn the calendar on my bulletin board (yep, still have one of those old fashioned puppies, along with a bunch of other misc papers of school schedules and upcoming meetings. I'm a visual kinda of girl and need to "see" a large calendar, despite how cluttery it looks) and see February. I know I’m jumping ahead a day but I’m more than ready! My legs are feeling good and my running's going well. I need to get a handle on my diet but feeling better about that. As Katie told me the other day, "Control the things you can - your running and your eating." I thought about this a lot on my run yesterday...

Yesterday I got my first 20-miler in for the 2010 (20.08 to be precise. And I’ll all about perfectionism). Woohooo! I know all y’all pay close attention to my training calendar below and saw that I only had 18 on the schedule. Yeah, well, I love to live a little crazy and adventurous sometimes. Hahah. Not really. I’m kind of a planner and organizer so a bit of excitement in Jill land to get an extra couple miles! Yeah, I know how to live!!! Aaaaaacuuuuuallly, I got in 18.89 miles at “pace” but some new Denver transplant stopped me on my run at that mileage point and asked me a gazillion questions about the trail we were currently sharing, a trail that fingered off of this trail, about mile markers, or lack thereof, how far this trail went, and about 50 other trail related questions……10 minutes later, back to wrap up my run and my legs were officially “done” and running strongwas NOT going to happen. I mean, lactic acid was thick as mud, no way I could do anything but shuffle through the last 1.19 miles to my car; I’m more than happy to help out a fellow runner but geez, my legs were just cramping up fast! So though I technically ran 20.08 miles, I’m only using the pace up to the point of question- woman-extraordinaire - which was, I’m happy to report, exactly 9:00 on the dot! This is a bit faster than where my long run pace should be, but on my plan I had a progression of each mile getting faster after mile 9 and since the last half of my run yesterday was uphill (yes, you read “half” ), I was just happy to just maintain a bit faster than normal long run pace.

Today my legs are not as sore as they can be with a long run – YES! Stiff but not sore at all. I met Tara at the gym this morning (Yea again!!) and we did a quad-athelon of sorts: 1 mile warm up on the elliptical trainer, stretching, a quasi ab and glute weight training (quasi because we did a lot of talking and just a bit of this and that; it was just a get together day and show each a few things – actually, while I think of it, we did do quite a bit of many things), followed by some pool time. 4 fun-filled exercised related things at the gym! Tara hasn’t done a lot of swimming lately so this was a big leap for her. We shared a lane and we just swam. And kicked with the kickboard, and talked about the guy next to us who told Tara he was a runner (who looked more like a body builder) training for a triathlon …. and thought Tara and I were Olympic swimmers. Um, yeah, Too funny. Tara did great in the pool on her first getting-back-in-pool shape and I think she’s going to do awesome in her triathlon this summer. Swim Tara, Swim!

I’ve got some squirrely insomnia something or another going on and am irritated beyond belief that I can’t keep my body asleep past some ungodly hours of the morning. Grrrrrrr! I’m sure it's some crappy combo of age, female-ness, and stress…but come on!!! I stress enough during the day while I’m awake, must I also stress when I should be asleep??!!!! Soooo frustrating. I’m certain it’s affecting my running and training; gotta look into a solution somewhere! Sometime around 4a.m. this morning, when I was wide awake, I heard this ruckus outside my bedroom window. I got up and looked and saw a car but it was squealing out of sight quick and I thought it was probably just the paperboy/person on drugs or something and went back to my land of insomnia. This morning, I saw my neighbor’s fence all smashed in - probably a bunch of nuttsy kids with nothing to do out vandalizing property. I’d beat the crap out of my kids if they did something like that and I found out (jk. sorta. they're all bigger than me these days. Punishment would have to involve money, somehow)I guess I’ll make myself “neighborhood watch person” since I’m up and all anyway. Maybe my lack of sleep has one positive perk.

Here's my newest get-my-lazy-butt-moving song: "Days Go By" by Dirty Vegas. I have to say that I am already sick of my Boston playlist I've started compiling. As one who cannot run more than 3 steps without something to distract the task at hand, the music on my iPod is quickly making me manic. Any suggestions of something upbeat and fast, let me know.

That’s about all the home-front and running news. Time to clean the pit…er, house!

Registration opens tomorrow for anyone interested in running the Chicago Marathon. Maybe it’s me but I think there’s something alluring about running a race on 10/10/10 – so come on and join in!

Week’s End Gratitude:
Tomorrow is February (one month closer to warmth)
Bananas with peanut butter
My really warm, fuzzy slippers
Tara meeting me at the gym today
Afternoon weekend naps

30 comments:

Julie said...

Hi Jill,
Awesome job on your 20 mile run! God I just can't believe that you are not hurting after your long run. I honestly could hardly walk after my half:) You must be in pristine shape there Lady! Wow, you got to work out with Tara again! You two must have alot of fun working out together. I wish I could be a fly on the wall and listen to your conversations. I am sure they are pretty entertaining:) I say this with love because I think you both are very nice and funny:)

Anonymous said...

oh, to be able to sleep all the way to 4 a.m. You are one lucky chica.

(and i'm with you on paper calendars! call me retro, but there's nothing better than a big blank calendar on jan. 1, just full of possibility. can't get that feeling on a computer.)

ajh said...

You are fast on long runs! That is a goal for me as I really overdo the slow on LSD. I don't know your taste in music but I love the Dixie Chicks and a lot of their songs are fast - Lubbock or Leave It, Some Days You've Got to Dance, Sin Wagon. Hope this helps.

Melissa said...

Awesome job!! I am totally impressed with your weekly and yearly mileage. Fantastic!!

Anonymous said...

The play list can always change. How about some Boston bands:
Aerosmith
The Cars
Boston (yeah, the band)
The Mighty Mighty Bostones
The Dropkick Murphys
American Hi-Fi
Butthole Surfers

Alllhave some kick booty running songs.

Christina said...

This product has been a HUGE HIT for marathon runners-thought I'd share!

http://www.youtube.com/nurichegoodness#p/u/15/OSuplzv56Ys

www.NuricheWell.com

I'd love to get your thoughts!

Running and living said...

I had my first 20 miler, too! And yes, a tad too fast...guess we both are speed addicts. Yay for us though! Oh, and I get you with the cool temps....I ran in 2 degrees on Sat!

Marlene said...

Way to go on the 20 and nice mileage for January! (Can't believe tomorrow is FEBRUARY!)

Adam Culp (Crazy Floridian) said...

Nice job this week. I have heard that overtraining can cause sleepless nights. Perhaps you are there?

Can't help much with playlist since I don't run with music. I find that I enjoy my runs much more since I stopped carrying the iPod.

Teamarcia said...

Congrats on the 20 and at a nice pace too! I am in (hopefully) for Chicago--10/10/10 is too cool to pass up!

Jen Feeny said...

Way to dominate that last half and still manage to be an awesome trail guide! :) LOL! Stopping in the midst of a run always kicks my butt... trying to get started back up again is always a struggle.

I wake up every morning at 4am to pee without fail, I feel your pain!

Unknown said...

Yeah for February Jilliette. I'm so, so, so sorry you have had such a frigidly, cold and freezing winter thus far(brat, huh?)because it's just like spring here and I wish you were here to bask in the sun with Daisy and I...sorry, I don't do "mean" very well. I apologize, that was so nasty of me! I actually had something helpful for you and your " squirrel brain" that has been visiting you lately. It's an off shoot of "RESCUE REMEDY" that you can get at Henry's/Jimbo's/or health food store and it's called RESCUE SLEEP. After a couple of squirts, you'll be sleeping like a baby(maybe, it works for me anyway)! I know you have to use a strong med sometimes but maybe this would work???
Hope you have a great week running and at work, hang in there girlie and nice job with the mileage.

Shellyrm ~ just a country runner said...

I am so jealous of your 20! You totally rock that pace. I wonder if I will ever get to do over 13 before my marathon/50k? I sure hope so or I will have to totally get my mind around running it for "just fun." And that's easier said than done.

You just have too much on your mind to sleep. And now you'll be thinking about the tire squealers too. I hope this bout of insomnia passes quickly. With all that running (50mile week!!!) we should be tired!

Great job on the runs...now try and get some sleep. ((hugs)) oh I got 4 letters from Army son! yippee!

Katie A. said...

Awesome job on finishing that run out strong! January sucked...but February is a new beginning. Clean up that playlist and hit the ground running! Great job on the month girly!
(((huggss)))

HappyTrails said...

I love paper calendars, too! I write all kinds of stuff in on each day - workout info, weather, shoes, appts, anything that might be somewhat special. It's nice to pick it up and be able to look back through it. Awesome job on your 20 miler!!! Great pace, too. Hopefully your sleeplessness will improve - it is very annoying. It's very windy here today - is it by you? Have a great week!
Kathleen

Anonymous said...

Great 20-miler! Boston (and the warmth!!) are going to be here before you know it!

Tricia said...

I like my training schedule on paper too. (on the refrigerator) Great job on the 20!

Heather said...

I am so glad it's February too, even though we likely have lots more cold weather to come. The end of January just could not come fast enough.

Velma said...

Happy Feb! Way to go on the run. I also like the Dirty Vegas song - keep the suggestions coming.

Tara said...

This is funny...I already knew all of this before you posted it! I like hanging out with you; you are so much fun.

Thanks for swimming with me yesterday, I had a blast.
I hope you slept better last night. :(

Jennifer said...

Great job with your 20 miler! Dang... and so fast! I am in complete denial that it's already February. Have a great training week!

Run Jess Run said...

Way to rock the long run!!

Pining for Pinterest said...

I totally agree with the stress thing! We have it all day, why does it have to interrupt our sleep! I hope that you have a wonderful week :-)

Jenn said...

Congrats on the 20, rockstar!! I know how great it feels to have one of those under your belt! I can fully guarantee you, noone would ever mistake me for an Olympic swimmer..lol!! Hope the insomnia gets in check. I was sooo tired last week when my body would not shut down at night! I would love to run Chicago. It falls on my 35th birthday! Too far, too much money, and too many commitments for me this year! Twin Cities again but maybe next year! Have a great training week!!

AZ said...

50 miles, that's a good week. Chicago, sounds interesting. 10/10/10 is even cooler.

The Boring Runner said...

Wow, you are stronger than I am. I would have blown by whoever was trying to talk to me at mile 18.89. Nice work!!

Chicago sounds really fun. 10/10/10 is nearly too good to pass up.

Anonymous said...

I sometime end up with a wacky sleeping pattern. It usually only lasts about a week or so.

Ulyana said...

Great job on everything! The long run, the training, the month. Excellent

Generation X (Slomohusky) said...

great running and swimming. sorry about the sleep mode turned off. i have the problem at times. it usually builds up for a good night sleep the next night though. running does one of two things. puts me the sleep early and fast, then i wake up early. like 3AM early. Or, i just lay there all night getting caught up on what pbs showed at 8pm, only i am watching the re-airing at 1am.

Mikey B said...

Nicely done on the run and swim. yeah, yeah, I realize I am a couple of days late on the comment. I dare ya to come out here and beat me up on the tardiness issue! :P

Playlist ideas:
Nickelback - Burn it to the Ground
David Guetta - Sexy Bitch
Muse - Uprising
Weezer - (If You're Wondering if I Want you to) I want you to
Rob Zombie - Two Lane Blacktop
Doomsday - Overseer
Jessie James - Blue Jeans

Mikey B