Week 2 / Random mindlessness

Monday:
Bike: 18.5 miles
Run: Easy 4.5 miles
"Easy" was tough, my legs were tired after bike ride and previous day long run.  Also need to slow that easy run down.  Didn't I mention this last week, too?  Let's see if I can't go 3 for 0 next week.
Tuesday:
Run: 2.5 miles (warm up for weight training)
Weights: 45 minutes
Wednesday:
Run: 11.5 miles "progression" run.
I thought I was going to barf when I picked up the pace after mile 6.  So progression turned into a 3 mile faster run from mile 6-9 and then slow, as in mega slow, to the end.  *sigh*
Thursday:
Run: 6 miles Easy + 6x30 sec hill sprints
Swim: 500M (the pool water was sooo warm, I was melting - in a pool!)
Weights: 45 minutes
Friday:
Run: 8.1 hilly miles
Legs felt pretty tired at the start but I quickly felt better and ran this route at a 9:45 pace, which shocked me.  I've been running this route a few times this summer and this is a PR by a long shot.  YAY!  I felt very strong at the end...another shocker!
Saturday:
1500M swim
Sunday:
Run: 16 miles.  14 miles @ 9:46, 2 mi cool down.
9:46?  for 14 miles?  HOW?!? I don't run that fast.  Yet.  I ran with my neighbor; he ran a few of my long runs with me when I was training for Boston in 2010, and he is a lot faster than me (now); I felt like I was pushing it a little, but time was flying (I really don't run with others often) and I never felt like I was pushing too hard.  Definitely fatigued at mile 14 and thus just ran 2 miles slow at the end to cool down.  A big confidence booster run!
Week 2 Totals:
Run: 48.6 mi 
Bike: 26.5 mi
Swim: 1.18 mi
Weights: 1:30:00

I like it!! :)  Overall, my legs felt really good this week and I continue to be amazed how well they are holding up.  As for the foot, I feel stiffness in my heel after a run, especially many hours later if I get off of it for any  length of time, but compared to a few months ago, this is absolutely nothing to moan about.  Very little Achilles or ankle issues, too.   What's screaming the most right now is my left hamstring during longer runs.  PT does not seem to be worried about it and said it is just weak and needs time to get stronger (also thinks I'm still favoring my left leg running since I spent two years overcompensating this leg to compensate for the bad right foot).  If he's not worried, then I won't.  At least not too much.  The pace still messes with my head, but I am seeing improvements (slowly!) and that's helping.  Week 2 done, ready for week 3 (a few less miles).

Other random useless junk:

• Seems there was some concern from some about my mileage last week.  I hadn't posted much about my summer mileage since it was just basically mileage to change to a forefoot landing but I was hovering around the mid 30s so after speaking with my PT, we came up with a a common ground starting point and that's where week 1 landed me.  All is good.  I love that you all love me so much and were worried :).  
• My laptop is fried.  I knew it was coming, things were not acting "normal" for quit some time.  You'd think that insight would have made me scramble to get things backed up quickly but um... yeah....  I was finally able to boot it in safe mood and spent about 5 hours backing it up and downloading it on my daughter's "old" laptop, which just happens to be newer, and faster, than my laptop...so guess who now has a new laptop!?!   Things happening a little different on this new computer; me and change are not really best friends.  
• My right rib cage is having some sort of frequent muscle spasm going on.  This is on the opposite side of the pulled rib muscle from a couple months ago.  It's annoying and wakes me up a lot.  Any ideas how to rid this sucker?  Grrrr.
• I finally did it and registered for my next marathon:  Carlsbad Marathon, January 22nd.  Never a race on my radar, but it fits well with the timing and I really preferred a low-key marathon with not a lot of hoopla for my first one back. Besides, I'll get to stay with my Boston Blogger Bud, Meg.  I've also never ran a marathon in January but notoriously I do not run spring marathons well; I love training in the cooler temps, but come race day when the weather is warmer, my body is not acclimated and lets me know on race day.  Will be interesting to see how how bumping up a few months will pan out.  I have no expectations in Carlsbad other than to get my body prepped to race 26.2 miles after such a long hiatus, it will be strictly a race to gauge where I need more strength.  I never thought I'd want to train to get to Boston again....but I am surprised how my head is leaning towards that.  Carlsbad will give me a lot of clues as to IF my body can get me back to Boston.  I think it can!  :)
• My friend and teacher at the school I work, just started a blog as he documents his journey to Leadville next year.  Please pop over HERE and become a follower, I know he'd appreciate the support and who isn't intrigued by the training of a 100-mile race?  
• Am I the ONLY soul who hasn't finished up their Q&As posts?  I think I have 30 more questions to answer.  Interestingly enough, Chris K, who was the instigator of said stupid game and initially tagged me, has left the blog world. Does that automatically take me out of the game and put a check mark next to all unanswered questions?   I'm thinking so...  
• My Chilly Cheeks relay mates all are doing the Denver Rock and Roll Half Marathon on Oct. 9th and want me to do it with them.  I'm sure they would all be sad if I weren't there, I'm such the life of any party!  I cringe to pay a lot of money to run a really crappy half marathon (back to that pace thing again)....but I think it would be a good training run and good to have a starting point - a measuring stick - to mark my racing progress.  So I may do it.  They'd better have an awesome shirt and medal!  And free beer after.
• Last little tidbit of news:  I applied for, and was accepted, to be part of a team for a local running store here in town which will be sponsored through Brooks.  I really don't have many details, there is a mandatory meeting next week to learn more of the scoop, but basically I will get some free Brooks garb and will wear said garb in a boat load of races, paid for by running store.  Sweet, huh?  This will all start in January of 2012.  I'm sure I'll be posting a lot about this as the deal unfolds, but to say I'm excited doesn't even describe how honored I am to be part of this team.  Maybe God was looking down on me finally and thought since I never slit my wrists in the 2-year heel from hell fiasco, here's a little reward for ya, Jillie!  Sweet, I'll take it, thanks!!

Kind of a boring week, not much to share.  Most days I feel like I'm drowning in marching band, cross country, and daughter moving stuff and there's not much excitement in that.  If my daughter doesn't get her crap out of every single room in my house, I'm personally going to move that stuff all in the garage myself until she has a confirmed move date.

Case in point!

Much cooler temps have moved into Colorado - and I like it!  Going to try to get up to the mountains in a couple weeks to get in some trail running as the Aspen trees turn their vibrant yellows.....man, I just love it up there in Fall (see new header pic)!  

Until next time...

Run strong, my friends!