Monday, October 31, 2011

Don't stop, get it, get it!

Hey All!

Just checking in. Another good weekend of running. Actually, I took Saturday off to go watch my sister race in Beach to Battleship half ironman. That was my first day off since I started running about 6 weeks or so ago.

Sunday I did a 12 miler. It was a practice run for a half I'm pacing my friends in next Sunday. I am beamingly proud to report that I ran exactly to the second 7:45 (goal) pace for 12 miles. Without stopping. Without running down the clock or having jacked up splits. Check it out. I even had 560 feet of elevation which is huge for me. When I was done I thought a few things:

*how the hell did I ever run 18 milers at 7 pace and enjoy it??
*I have waaay too much 50 cent on my ipod
*Holy f***, I just ran 12 miles. I can't wait to tell Pauline! I'm solid. It's confirmed!

The run before this one I had wanted an easy 6 miler. I was chill and ready for it because I've been running a few too many 6:40-6:50's than I should be. I was mentally set but then I put this on:
BAD idea for an easy run. Who the hell wears that and thinks they can schlep out 7:30 pace. Not me. So I ended up with 7 miles at 6:59 pace. haha. Enough to get the 6:xx but not kill myself. I am not wearing that unless it's tempo day. lol. But seriously. because I'm not on a schedule yet I tend to chase my own splits. It's so addicting and a lot of fun. I know I won't be able to do this come training time. Eh, fun for now.

Oh, oh!! As if all of cyber-land isn't sick of my bikini pictures I am super stoked to have these bad ass renditions! My super fast, elite runner friend Benny helped me out by pimping out my Miami Hurricane photos. Here are a few. I love the colors! Thanks Benny!



Happy Running Peeps!
Laura

Thursday, October 27, 2011

I'm here, I'm here!

Dearest neglected loves! I am so sorry I haven't updated in over a week. I get your "wtf" emails and messages. I'm on it, I'm on it!!

The good news continues! I'm about a month and a half out of the BOOT:







I did 50 miles last week and looking at the same for this week. I run 7 days a week. Every morning I do 6, 8 or 10 milers. Pretty much all sub 7:20 pace. I feel like I already said this...anyways...no pain, my muscles are doing much better.

I had my first 8 mile sub 7 run today. Huge milestone. I did four with my running partner Dan. He wigged out a bit because he ran with compression for the first time. So the first 4 miles were 7:02 pace including a warm up mile. I was confused. He was talking about Halloween stuff like we were sitting at Starbucks. But my ego said, hang tight, it'll be over soon. Then Dan left and I reset my watch to do 4 more but easy...that didn't happen. 4 @ 6:51 pace. It's good to know my legs will go but I in no way enjoyed any of the footsteps from mile 7.5-8. In fact the only reason I didn't stop at 7.91 when I was gagging on my tongue was because I post my garmin's on FB. Ha.

I made a hard decision about swimming too. I'm not doing it anymore. I've been swimming for years. Minimum of 1-2 times a week. I love it but the reason is financial. My HAIR IS EXPENSIVE! I can't afford to maintain good hair with that swim schedule. I was looking ratty, dry, brittle, dull and frizzed out. Two words came to mind F**k THIS! So sad. It hurts, but my hair looks good. lol.

I also haven't been on the bike. That blows as well, but my body is adjusting to the run again and I am tired! I did a 90 degree head bob while getting my hair blown out this week. Embarrassing and it hurts. lol. So until I can hang with my new mileage I am sticking to running only.

So that's about it....WAIT, no, that's right...AB UPDATE!!! BROWNCHICKENBROWNCOW! (lmao) I've been doing a half ass version of ab ripper every day after my run. I seem to get distracted and bullshit my way through most of it. But some is better than none! Here ya go!
I dunno about you but I see some fledgling abs poking out!

Maybe?

ok, I'm out peeps..party on, run well and have a good one. PS should you become bored around 8pm eastern tonight watch the HURRICANES do some sick shit! go []_[]!!!
SWAGGERANCE!
XOXO
Laura

Monday, October 17, 2011

I'm not a has been, I'm not a has been!


Finally, my legs are turning over with a little more ease! This is week 4 after I was cleared to start running again after a tibia stress fracture. This week I did 48 miles. All betw 6:40-7:27 pace. Yes, FOUR glorious sub 7's!! They kinda just happened. I didn't realize it until I saw my garmin. I can't tell you how exciting it is to see a 6:xx for the first time in 4 months. So exciting I did 2 more miles slightly faster. Then crumbled to the pavement happy and exhausted.

This week I did my first 10 miler. I was a tad nervous about hitting the wall. The first 5 miles were 7:45 pace up the north end of ATT and then we stopped and turned for 5 more also up ATT. lol..I hate that place! A really good negative though. I was trying to chase down my friend Chaz so my 7:45 pace turned to 7:0x's and he still won. Moral of the story: ultra runners can have sick speed and kick. Chase with caution.

I have to thank these dudes and dudette's above who woke super early and drove forever to run my first 10 miler with (or ahead) of me!! You guys rock. That was the best run ever! We need to do this more often!

Ab Ripper Update*****ding ding ding...I'm still a skinny white girl and probably will never have abs. Whatever!


2 weeks of ab ripper

On a cross training note. I haven't. I didn't ride my bike or swim. I did speed bag to keep my arms toned. I just don't have enough time or energy to do it all right now. Running is my priority. Once I get a handle on that I hope to stop running 7 days and drop to 6 with one cross training day.

So all is great in the land of post injury fitness and The MIAMI HURRICANES!!

24/30 win to UNC

Happy Running Peeps!
Laura
xoxo

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Naked Ab workout?? errrr....

Dearest Loves, I have a serious warning for you tonight. As runners, or even just people getting their workout on, we've all been in this sitch.

The scene: You just got home from a workout or run. You're nasty sweaty. You strip down and throw your clothes in the washer and head for the shower.  Cool, eh? 

Ah, uh, uhhhh, not so fast. You walk by the living room and see your ab mat laying there. (My routine is abs post run.)

Well, ya'll know I'm kinda psycho about routine. So, in an effort for everyone to learn from my mistake. PLEASE DO NOT DO ABS NAKED WITH RUNNING SHOES ON!

Yes, I did it. I just didn't see the need to dirty more clothes for a 15 minute workout. But clearly, you need the weight of shoes to do abs.  So that right there folks is pure horror.


Skip the abs, do em later but don't think you can do V up situps or bicycles without experiencing extreme laughter while simultaneously vomiting a little in your mouth.


Well, that is my intro to Laura's Abalicious Comeback Part II!!

Most of my blog followers remember when I did ab updates before. I sort of gave up after a few weeks. Well, in an effort to "keep that shit tight" I'm doing ab ripper X again.

Here are some pics from this week:

fat...

skinny ...KIDDING!
 So ya'll know my baseline of nothingness...we'll see how it goes. 15 minutes about 4-5 times a week.

As for my running. It's getting easier. 6-8 miles a day at roughly 7:15 pace. 

Thanks for reading. Later Peeps!
Laura  

 

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Word...


Happy Sunday my dears!

Another successful week of running done. I'm now 3 weeks into my comeback from a tibia stress fx. Now that I am over the bad part I feel so much better. Here's a recap of how the weeks went:

Week 1: all 2 milers. I limped and fought back tears because my calves were so weak it hurt. 10 miles total
Week 2: 3, 5 and 6 milers. All very hard 8 pace runs. 27 miles total
Week 3: 4, 6, 7 and 8 milers. Most runs around 7:15 pace. Pacing is hard. I'm falling back into the low 7's too soon, I think. 43 miles total.

I still feel weak in my lower legs. I don't have the strong push off that I'm used to. But on the same token I'm kinda excited to see what happens over the next month. I've cut down the swimming to 2x45 minutes of freestyle and the bike once or twice for 20+ miles.

So all is good in the land of recovery. I don't plan on going much over 50 miles for a while. This is as good as it gets for me considering my lack of self control when I run. PS I always appreciate your running advice. Thanks guys!

Cheers and GO CANES! XOXO

Trying to tone it down...

But I can't!

No caption needed!

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

I feel like a couch potato.

Okay, this come back is crap! Yes, I'm sooooo grateful to be able to run again. Every morning that I put on running shoes I literally get loopy with joy. I've waited 2 months to run again. I couldn't be happier. However, considering I BUSTED MY ASS with cross training I'm a tad shocked that I'm not clicking off 7 minute miles as easy as before.I swam and biked about 13-15 hours every week. My cardio was spot on. My quads feel strong, my core feels strong. But I'm laying out serious effort to keep a 7:15 pace for 6 miles.This is my thinking:

*My calves are still crap from the boot. I wasn't using one leg for 3 weeks and that was just 2.5 weeks ago.
*I'm still hitting the pool and bike moderately.
*I could be "tired"
*I didn't run for 2 months, this happens
*confirms that running is the most bad ass sport out there.

I think I need to gain muscle back in my calves and gluts. I didn't notice it until I went on my first run. The power wasn't there. So my focus is on rebuilding those areas via running and strength training. 

Last week I ran 27 miles in 7 days. starting with 3 milers and ending with a 6 miler. I never increase more than 1 mile a day.

This week so far I've run 6 milers on Monday and Tuesday. 7:23 pace and 7:18 pace averages. I HATE stopping but I promised my ortho I would stop and stretch at the midway point. Technically, I am over doing it but I know my body. I have zero stress fx pain but overall soreness and feeling like I want to lay down and take a nap. Then getting home and taking a nap. lol

As I was sucking air today and my legs were burning and sweat was dripping in 55 degree weather I thought of my running partners over the years. The ones that never talk on a run just so they can keep up or the ones who stop and stretch mid run. The ones who wouldn't run with me. Or those in a group run who whisper, let her go. NOT saying I was ever fast but I GET IT NOW!! Running is hard work. I will never take it for granted again!  But this sucking air bullshit will be coming to an end SOON!




Mini me holding down the podium. Good job kiddo!
The party continues!!
Later Peeps!
Laura