New blog

Sometime soon I'm restarting my "training blog"elsewhere & inviting friends only. It needs a "redo"...a new look...a new start, etc....

This is my final post here & I will say it's kept me accountable.

It's kept me from being one of those people who says they're going to do something but then they never do. 

Although I've had my own excuses I would like to believe that even though I've miss a few goals over the last year, my training speaks for itself.  I put forth my best effort on the race day God gave me.

In the last 12 - 14 months, I've missed my Boston time by less than 2 minutes & again a couple months later by less than 4 minutes on a hillier course. I've learned a lot about marathon nutrition & myself. 

I have fought to regain some endurance/speed the last few months due to injury.  It's not over yet but I'm getting there.  

I've learned to ignore the "doubters". I've learned that I can surround myself with positive people & have positive experiences.  

As crazy as this sounds this blog has brought me to a place where I never knew I could be both personally & athletically as a woman entering her 40's who had never really "trained" for a full marathon to a woman in her mid-40's who finally grasped what my body could handle if I actually "trained" for a marathon.  "Yes, Lisa, you will feel better during a 26.2 race if you do a 20 miler or beyond to prepare.. ".    Doh!

I will close out my final post here with the fact that I just went over 2 years straight on myfitnesspal & I'm proud to report it still works for me.  I am accountable for what I put in my mouth every day.  :-).  I feel good about my 47 year old body & not many folks can say that.  

Friends...you will be getting an invite to the next blog. Adios...

Tom King 1/2 race report

1:54:14 with a sinus infection.  :-)

10 days of antibiotics...22 miler will be moved from next Sat to two weeks from now.  End of report. LMAO!

Freaking hills

My mid week long run was 12.5 with some "fast boys" from NRC.  Roy, Daryl, David, & David V.  drug my hungry butt over our Wed night hilly route pretty much 2x.  I made the mistake of not getting enough carbs Wed.  We had to circle back to my car so I could grab something to eat. That particular mile was a 10:13.  LOL! 

Overall it was an 8:50 pace.  Considering how crappy I felt I'm ok with it. 

Saturdays long run was another 20 miler due to the Tom King half this coming weekend. My plan was to try to run about a 9:20-9:30 & put in a lot of hills.  Mission accomplished...sorta... I had a 9:17 pace overall & forgot to take in one if my gels. (I'm rocking Advocare products on the long runs & it is helping.)

I felt a bit too tired in the end but it's been a hard week of running. 

This week I'm taking it easy & hoping for the best on the half on Saturday, God willing....  I'm still not sold on doing the full in Carmel again.  We shall see....

20.2 mile training run

After doing about 4 hours of yoga last week & not running on Thursday or Friday, my legs were itching for a long run.  

The plan was for 20 miles, practice holding back on the front end, & practice fueling.  It went well but it could've been better.  All the hills were in the first 13 miles or so.  I had company for about 14 of it thanks to Traci B.  

My pace was an 8:56 for 20.2 miles.  My fastest training run at that distance even though I had a flat 22 miler before New Orleans last year at an 8;58 pace.  

This weekend I'm doing another 20 but slowing it down to around a 9:20-ish pace.  The Tom King 1/2 is the week after & I would like to "race" it if I at all possible. 

The week after Tom King I hope to do 22 miles as close to race pace as possible. 

I really need to put hills in the last 4-5 miles though.  

Well, maybe I am training for a full after all.  I hit 40 miles this week & look to hit another 40 this week. I refuse to run more than that, though.  My body just doesn't respond as well. 

I have to say mid-week long runs is where it's at!  Love my fast Wednesday running club friends!  My mid week run is really making my long run seem easy. 

Maybe I finally found my "sweet spot" with marathon training. 😉

blogging break over...I think....?

The blogging break is over...and so is my plantar fascittis for the most part.
Let's just say that it's hard for me to complain about it since I ran an 18 miler on it two weeks ago at an 8:57 pace & I did a hilly 15k Hot Chocolate race on it this past weekend.
The only pain is if I sit too long or when I get up first thing in the morning.  Within minutes of stretching, I'm fine. ;-)

As for my next marathon...who knows at this time but I am signed up at the "cheap rate" for the Carmel full & about 100 peeps are going from the running club.  It should be a fun trip & we'll be seeing our friends, the Heusers, who now live in Noblesville, 20 minutes away.  It's a no brainer that we go back again......3rd yr in a row!
I'm going to attempt 20 miles this weekend & see how it goes....
I'm up to 35 miles a week & loving every step of it.  I have to say that aqua jogging 3x a week along with other cross training for that 4-6 week period really helped me keep some fitness.  I spent the month of Dec trying to get back what I lost & I think I'm almost there. 

My runs have been "conservative" & usually only 3 or 4 runs a week.
Long run:....starting slow & bringing it down as I go....
Long tempo run.......usually 8-10 miles....I hit an 8:19 pace on the hills of Nolensville last night on a 10+ miler.  I was happy with that.  My Wed afternoon tempo run dudes have been pulling me along quite nicely. 
Shorter steadier marathon paced run....around 8:55-ish & usually 6-7 miles.
And sometimes I'll run a very slow run around a 9:30-ish pace...maybe 4 to 4.5 miles

What I've done since early Nov.........

Walked/Ran the half in Indy with friends...didn't want to lose my $
Cancelled our California trip to run the CIM....lost my race fees  ;-(
Ran a 4 mile race in Michigan the Saturday after Thanksgiving & got 2nd in my age group.
Ran the Hot Chocolate 15k in 1:17.......that b*tch was hilly!
Ran Nola  1/2 in some hot, humid conditions a few weeks ago.  1:55 in steamy, foggy conditions!

What am I going to do....

I'm going to run the Tom King 1/2 & I'll likely tuck in behind our running clubs 1:45 peeps & try to hang on as long as I can....
If this weekends 20 goes well, I'll be doing another "slower" 20 the following weekend, then Tom King the next.............then a 22 miler........yeah, I know it sounds like I'm training for a marathon but I'm still leaving the door open to NOT do it, also.  I don't need a 3rd sub 4 hour full.  I need my 3rd attempt to be sub 3:55. 

Joe is gearing up (after a short lay off on running due to injury) for Boston.  He's in it to run it for fun & enjoy the moment.  We have Sox vs Yankees tickets the day after the marathon.  I can't wait!