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By kilax, November 13, 2017 12:20 pm

It amazes me how creaky my body sometimes feels when I wake in the morning. Come on, body! You just got many hours of sleep! You should be raring to go!

Ha, the logical part of my brain knows that some of my muscles tense up at night and need to be stretched out to feel good. And another logical part of me knows that as I get older, that feeling is probably only going to get worse.

You know, unless I take care of myself, like by stretching every day…

At least I do a good job with a monthly massage!

Wouldn’t it be amazing to be a sponsored elite athlete and get a massage every day? And have someone cook for you? And take naps every day? And only have to focus on running and not work…? Ha ha ha – I got a bit off track there.

Comments (2)

By kilax, November 12, 2017 5:45 pm

Highlight of the Week: Getting all my runs in, and finishing off the week with a run with Jen!

Monday | November 6, 2017: 10 m ride + 4.5 m run (incl. 4 hill repeats) + teaching strength class
Indoor Ride Time: 38:27, Pace: 15.6 mph avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: fine, just not positioned right (sore butt!)
Loc: hood, Temp: 39°/39°, Time: 11:06, Pace: 49:57 avg, Difficulty: easy-ish, Felt: good!
Strength: BOSU and two dumbbells, Difficulty: easy-ish, Felt: good, sweaty
Tuesday | November 7, 2017: 3 m run
Loc: Chicago Lakefront Trail, Temp: 47°/46°, Time: 30:08, Pace: 10:02 avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: great, just hungry
Wednesday | November 8, 2017: rest
Thursday | November 9, 2017: 4 m run (incl. 3×800)
Loc: Lake Andrea, Temp: 33°/33°, Time: 41:18, Pace: 10:20 avg, Difficulty: medium, Felt: pushed back by the wind
Friday | November 10, 2017: teaching strength class + 1,134 yd swim + 5 m run
Strength: BOSU and two dumbbells, Difficulty: easy, Felt: good, but hard on the hips!
Loc: FitNation, Time: 25:00, Pace: 2:12 min/100 yd, Difficulty: easy, Felt: good
Loc: Van Patten Woods, Temp: 28°/28°, Time: 55:05, Pace: 11:01 avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: amazing
Saturday | November 11, 2017: 10 m run
Loc: DPRT/Kilbourne loop, Temp: 28°/30°, Time: 1:59:17, Pace: 11:56 avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: sluggish (didn’t sleep well)
Sunday | November 12, 2017: 12 m ride + 7 m run (w/Jen)
Indoor Ride Time: 47:40, Pace: 15.1 mph avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: good
Loc: DPRT, Temp: 36°/37°, Time: 1:28:54, Pace: 12:42 avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: good

Notes:

• I love that I work close to the Lakefront Trail and can run there during lunch break but MAN, there are so many stop lights just to get out there. That would make me nuts if I had to do it every day!
• It was cold enough Thursday that my phone died during my run. Time to put that thing in a glove! (I remembered for Friday and Saturday’s runs, which were even colder.)
• The BOSU workout we’re doing in class is challenging my hips. We’ve been doing a curtsy lunge (aka skaters) with two dumbbells down to the BOSU and I feel it immediately!
• We had our first snowfall of the season Friday, and I had a peaceful, calm run on it on the trails. What a treat! The day before was warmer but windy, and felt a lot colder, so this lovely run was especially appreciated.
• Then I ran again on the snow Saturday. It rained for all of Sunday’s run. ‘Tis the season!

Link to Training Week 420

Thanks to everyone who entered the 11 Year Runniversary Amazon giftcard giveaway! Random.org picked #8 (each entry and favorite movie counted as two), which was Christina!

Comments (18)

By kilax, November 10, 2017 8:29 am

Today is my eleven year runniversary – it’s eleven years since the day I started running!

The tattoo I got in 2014 to celebrate running

I started running to lose weight, like many do, and continued to do it for the enjoyment and stress release. Running is so ingrained in my life now – I feel grumpy if I don’t do it. Even if I am not racing, or running very long, far, or fast, I am still out there almost every day.

So let’s celebrate! I will be giving away an $11 Amazon giftcard (get it, a dollar for each year?) to one person! (not sponsored, this will be from my own cashola)

$11 Amazon Giftcard GIVEAWAY Rules

1. One reader will receive a prize.
2. REQUIRED to enter the giveaway: leave a comment telling me what you like to do for exercise.
3. BONUS extra entry (can be in same comment as required entry): tell me your favorite new film from 2017.  
4. This giveaway is open until 12:00 PM CST on Sunday November 12. I will announce the winners on Sunday November 12 (in the training recap post).
5. Random.org will pick the the winner.
6. This giveaway is open to all readers, in all locations.

Comments (8)

By kilax, November 9, 2017 6:28 am

• Two years ago, I wrote about the ponytail rule my middle school track coach had –
  he didn’t want to see any lateral sway in our ponytails when we ran. The implication was that it meant you were running inefficiently. In the comments, we couldn’t figure out WHY. Well, guess what I saw in an article in the November/December issue of Chicago Athlete? A somewhat explanation. Ha! I am still going to wear my hair in a bun and not worry about it though.

• Anyone who eats out with me knows that I LOVE Red Robin because they have a vegan and vegetarian burger option, and bottomless (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) fries. They are phasing out those burger options though, and replacing it with just one vegan* “ancient-grain-and-quinoa” (read: “trying to look healthy”) burger, and guess what? It’s gross (taste and texture). So gross I didn’t finish my burger last time I was there and I ALWAYS FINISH MY FOOD. Why Red Robin, why? Steven emailed them last month about the change and they sent some generic response. I emailed them again this week pleading they bring back the Boca burger (no response yet). That used to be my easy go to place with big groups of people, and I don’t think it will be anymore. Bummer.

• A local station started playing holiday music on Tuesday. Yay! I love holiday music, and it’s fun when the season is over, because then I get to hear all the new tunes I missed when they came out because I was listening to holiday music.
• Has anyone else started using the new google calendar? I like how it adds images to some of my events based on the title, like this one with swimming:

*They told us it was vegan on the phone, but we can’t confirm it on their website

Link to Random Thoughts Thursday 154

Comments (30)

By kilax, November 7, 2017 6:34 am

I haven’t considered running another marathon since my last one in December 2015. I was elated with how it went, and haven’t wanted to allocate the time to train for another one. <— lazy

But, man, if your favorite runner winning one of the World Major Marathons doesn’t inspire you to do something epic… then something might be wrong with you. Ha ha. Hmm…

That time xaarlin and I both had a random gift for each other – and it turned out to be the exact same thing – a pin of Amy Cragg catching Shalane Flanagan as she finished the 2016 Olympic Marathon Trials.

When xaarlin text me Sunday morning that Shalane Flanagan won the New York City Marathon, I immediately had tears of happiness (especially when I saw the photos and videos of Flanagan’s emotional finish). I’ve loved following Flanagan’s career, and have always rooted for her. To see her finally get this big win, on what she said would be her last race, was just amazing.

I selfishly hope she doesn’t retire though!

Comments (4)

By kilax, November 5, 2017 5:49 pm

Highlight of the Week: Doing my speedwork on Thursday (and not putting off until the weekend)!

Monday | October 30, 2017: 4 m run (incl. 3 hill repeats) + teaching strength class
Loc: hood, Temp: 47°/48°, Time: 43:47, Pace: 10:56 avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: annoyed with cars – what’s new?
Strength: Airex pads and plates, Difficulty: easy, Felt: decent
Tuesday | October 31, 2017: rest
Wednesday | November 1, 2017: 3 m run
Loc: Lakefront Trail, Temp: 42°/44°, Time: 30:32, Pace: 10:10 avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: great
Thursday | November 2, 2017: 5 m run (incl. 6×400) + 5 m ride
Loc: hood, Temp: 47°/48°, Time: 53:30, Pace: 10:41 avg, Difficulty: easy/medium, Felt: like I could do exactly six repeats, ha
Indoor Ride Time: 19:46, Pace: 15.2 mph avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: tired legs
Friday | November 3, 2017: teaching strength class + 1,008 yd swim + 4 m run
Strength: two dumbbells and BOSU, Difficulty: easy, Felt: good, but creaky in one hip
Loc: FitNation, Time: 22:12, Pace: 2:12 min/100 yd, Difficulty: easy, Felt: great
Loc: VP Woods, Temp: 43°/42°, Time: 43:31, Pace: 10:53 avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: good, annoyed with all the “rock” stops
Saturday | November 4, 2017: teaching fitness boxing + 4 m run
Strength: whole body, gloves, and pads, Difficulty: easy (mostly observing), Felt: good
Loc: hood, Temp: 44°/45°, Time: 43:30, Pace: 10:52 avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: good
Sunday | November 5, 2017: 12 m run
Loc: Lake Andrea/outlet mall loop, Temp: 46°/47°, Time: 2:20:10, Pace: 11:41 avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: great

Notes:

• I renewed my yearly swim pass this week, so I need to make sure I go to the pool at least thirty-eight times by October 31st next year, to make it worth the cost (versus paying a drop in fee)!
• The temperature was in the high 40s with low winds Thursday so I headed out for a run in shorts and a tank and quickly realized I should have worn gloves too. Oops. I won’t make that mistake again – my hands were cold (for hours!) until I made a mug of cider and held it just to warm them up.
• I did all my weekly runs during lunch break this week. I like that a lot better than running after work. After work I just want to be laaaaazy.
• Boy, I woke up feeling sore Saturday (and Sunday) from the BOSU workout we did in strength class Friday morning! I like it when that happens – it means I worked something I haven’t in a while.
• Yay, I actually did a long run this week! And really enjoyed it. Sunday morning is a quiet time for runs and I enjoy not having to think about too much traffic.
• Monthly recap time. In October I ran 102.9 miles (24 runs), cycled 40 miles (4 indoor rides) and swam 2,520 yards (3 swims). My coldest run was 34°F and my warmest was 80°F. I taught 9 strength classes, and 2 fitness boxing class. I did 1 strength training session at home.

Link to Training Week 419

Comments Off on Training Week 419

By kilax, October 29, 2017 8:15 pm

Highlight of the Week: Running with Bobbi, and running in the capital of my home state!

Monday | October 23, 2017: 10 m ride + 4.5 m run (incl. 4 hill repeats) + teaching strength class
Indoor Ride Time: 38:21, Pace: 15.6 mph avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: great, sweaty
Loc: hood, Temp: 52°/52°, Time: 47:20, Pace: 10:31 avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: great, loved the cool weather
Strength: plates and Airex pad, Difficulty: medium, Felt: too hot
Tuesday | October 24, 2017: 4 m run (w/Bobbi)
Loc: hood, Temp: 46°/46°, Time: 46:28, Pace: 11:36 avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: good, happy for the distraction
Wednesday | October 25, 2017: rest
Thursday | October 26, 2017: 3 m run
Loc: hood, Temp: 56°/56°, Time: 33:26, Pace: 11:08 avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: fine, just not in the mood – tired
Friday | October 27, 2017: teaching strength class + 2 m run
Strength: plates and Airex pads, Difficulty: easy, Felt: good, happy it wasn’t so hot in the studio
Loc: hood, Temp: 37°/38°, Time: 21:20, Pace: 10:38, Difficulty: easy, Felt: anxious to go on our trip
Saturday | October 28, 2017: 2.6 m run
Loc: downtown Des Moines, Temp: 34°/34°, Time: 29:29, Pace: 11:21 avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: great
Sunday | October 29, 2017: rest

Notes:

• Bobbi and I figured out Tuesday early evening is a good time for both our schedules for a run. I hope it’s something we can do a few times a month!
• The cold weather and wind came this week. I wore long sleeves for the first time this season! And gloves! Woo hoo!
• We had a busy week and weekend, and I didn’t plan well to work out much. Gah. Good thing I am not training for anything…
• I was in Iowa for a college class reunion this week and got the chance to run in downtown Des Moines. There is a lot of neat public art along the pedestrian walkway there. And some super cool pedestrian bridges! I hope I get a chance to run it sometime in the daylight (Sunday was NOT that day – I needed my sleep after a full day on Saturday).

Link to Training Week 418

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By kilax, October 23, 2017 5:20 am

Highlight of the Week: a super chill Friday.

Monday | October 16, 2017: 4.5 m run + teaching strength class
Loc: hood, Temp: 50°/55°, Time: 47:02, Pace: 10:27 avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: great
Strength: body bars, Difficulty: easy, Felt: good
Tuesday | October 17, 2017: 4 m run
Loc: VP Woods, Temp: 70°/68°, Time: 42:41, Pace: 10:40 avg, Difficulty: easy-ish, Felt: decent
Wednesday | October 18, 2017: rest
Thursday | October 19, 2017: 4 m run
Loc: hood, Temp: 62°/60°, Time: 43:38, Pace: 10:54 avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: great, loving the cool weather
Friday | October 20, 2017: teaching strength class + 1,008 yd swim + 3 m run + massage
Strength: plates and airex pad, Difficulty: medium, Felt: good
Loc: FitNation, Time: 22:31, Pace: 2:14 min/100 yd, Difficulty: easy, Felt: happy I went
Loc: VP Woods, Temp: 70°/73°, Time: 33:17, Pace: 11:05 avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: hot, hot, hot (but fine)
Saturday | October 21, 2017: teaching strength class + 3 m run
Strength: cardio, core, and boxing, Difficulty: easy, Felt: too hot
Loc: hood, Temp: 69°/70°, Time: 32:45, Pace: 10:54 avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: okay, thirsty!
Sunday | October 22, 2017: 6 m run (incl. 12×1:00) + 10 m ride
Loc: Kilbourne/H, Temp: 66°/67°, Time: 1:06:45, Pace: 11:08 avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: hot and miserable until I turned around and faced the wind
Indoor Ride Time: 39:09, Pace: 15.3 mph avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: good, just sore butt

Notes:

• I woke up Friday and thought for sure I wouldn’t swim after teaching. I feel that way every Friday when I wake up at 3:45 am. Ha. I figured the feeling would go away after class but I still wasn’t sure on the drive home whether my car would take me to the pool or not. It did at the last minute. And I’m happy it did – Fridays are such a nice quiet time at the pool and I would have been annoyed going during open swim on the weekend (when it’s way more hectic at the pool). I gotta keep that in mind when I’m dead tired and thinking about skipping my swim.
• My annual pool pass expires on Saturday. Time to decide if I’ll get another!
• Beyond waking up early on Friday, I had an awesome day – teaching, swimming, napping, running, hammocking, a massage, and dinner with friends. What a wonderfully lazy day. (I work extra hours eight days of the pay period so that I get one day off every two weeks, and it was this past Friday.)
• I didn’t feel as awesome after my massage as normal though – my upper back felt really tight on Saturday. Blah.
• It’s not unusual to have warm and humid weather this late in to October, but it’s really making me not want to run much. <— broken record.
• I must sit really different on the bike inside than outside, because my butt can hardly handle the seat and it’s fine outside (and I don’t think it’s a 100% a conditioning thing, although riding more would help!).

Link to Training Week 417

Comments (6)

By kilax, October 21, 2017 12:35 pm

Last weekend I was driving on the two-lane highway I live off of AND I SAW ANOTHER RUNNER.

WHUT.

I am not the only fool who runs on that road?! It’s not just me?!

I was so excited. I wanted to pull over and run over to them and say “I run on this road too! Isn’t the shoulder horrible?! What’s your name? Where do you live?”

Ha. I obviously didn’t do that, since that would be freaky and weird. And I am not that crazy.

But! Today when I was running, I saw this person again, also on foot! I stopped and said hello, asked where she lives (close to me), and she mentioned what she was training for, with her sister (who also lives close to me). Then we said goodbye.

And immediately I thought “I should have asked her name!” “I should have asked if she ever wants company on her runs!” “I missed my opportunity!”

And then I kept running and thinking about it… I used to run with people a lot more than I do now. I had standing running dates a couple of times a week. I got out of bed early for run dates. I was a morning runner.

I get more sleep now. I run whenever I feel like it. And I don’t run as hard as I do with another person, that’s for damn sure.

I was still thinking about it when we passed each other a second time (!!!). I could ask her name now, I thought. Ask if she’s ever looking for company…

She passed and said “See ya next time!” And I responded with an enthusiastic “yeah!”

So… yeah. Maybe next time.

But it does feel good to know I am not the only crazy running on these roads.

Comments (4)

By kilax, October 15, 2017 5:34 pm

Highlight of the Week: Starting to see the leaves change colors (<— so basic)!!!

Monday | October 9, 2017: 10.2 m run + teaching strength class
Loc: DPRT/Kilbourne Loop, Temp: 57°/68°, Time: 1:58:44, Pace: 11:39 avg, Difficulty: medium/hard, Felt: a little tired, a lot fried by the sun
Strength: body bars, Difficulty: easy, Felt: good
Tuesday | October 10, 2017: 3 m run
Loc: Lake Andrea, Temp: 57°/58°, Time: 30:45, Pace: 10:15 avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: great
Wednesday | October 11, 2017: rest
Thursday | October 12, 2017: 4.5 m run
Loc: VP Woods, Temp: 58°/58°, Time: 50:12, Pace: 11:12 avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: fine
Friday | October 13, 2017: teaching strength class + 504 yd swim + 3 m run
Strength: body bars, Difficulty: medium, Felt: fine, just sore in the shoulders right away!
Loc: FitNation, Time: 11:09, Pace: 2:13 min/100 yd, Difficulty: easy, Felt: good
Loc: hood, Temp: 63°/63°, Time: 31:36, Pace: 10:31, Difficulty: easy, Felt: good
Saturday | October 14, 2017: 4.5 m run (incl. 4×800)
Loc: Lake Andrea, Temp: 62°/62°, Time: 47:20, Pace: 10:31 avg, Difficulty: easy-ish, Felt: good, body tired at first
Sunday | October 15, 2017: 10 m ride + 20 mins strength
Indoor Ride Time: 37:16, Pace: 16.1 mph avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: good

Notes:

• Gosh, one bad night of sleep Monday night and I felt off most of the week (and wanted to nap instead of work out most days, ha). I hope that doesn’t happen again!
• Bobbi drove by where I was working out on Saturday and text me that she saw me and was waving to me from her car. That made me smile! I love that we live so close to her and her family and “run” in to each other.

Link to Training Week 416