Random thoughts from an over caffeinated runner

Hello my dears!

I haven't updated in over a week.  No news is good news on the base building front though. The last month has been 55-60 mile weeks. A few runs where I felt I got off my plateau of boring ass 7:0Xmm pace.

I did a random 12 miler last week. I had no pace in mind. I wanted to chillax. But half way to my run in the car I had this POSSESSED feeling come over me. Like I had to had to lay out some good miles. Like the Nike gods where yelling down at me: you better run! I ended up running 6:50 and pace not really pushing it. That was the sweet part! I took a self picture to document the possession:

No vanity here. I just woke up..I am crazy for posting this. oy

This is necessary:

ok I feel pretty and not so psycho. Phew!

okay, back to running....yes. 

I have added hills again. Probably half my runs are with 450ft+ of elevation. I did a 2 a day as well last week. It was fun. I haven't felt too tired or beat up lately. I am getting a little more serious as January approaches and I will have a training schedule again. The fire is coming back. I haven't wanted it for a while but as I am improving slowly my competitive side is creeping in. Yay for that!

On the ab ripper/bosu ball front. I'm still doing abs maybe 5 times a week. Mostly on the bosu. Still same old crap. I have a feeling diet would rip me up a little more but I don't care enough. I think if I reduced my carbs my running would suffer. 

same ol same ol. 

So my goal is still a May marathon. I haven't committed to anything yet. I have issues with race registration. I'm a race day type of girl but I'm learning that doesn't fly in the marathon world. 

On one more random note here is my yearly mileage to date. Which includes 2 months off for that stress fracture. 

Party on peeps. And Happy New Year!!

Laura

Finally, a reason why I'm slow.

Ah-ha!! I figured it out. Thank god I'm a little OCD with the fitness cam. I found this picture of my calves right before my stress fracture. And then took another now. Clearly, calves are helpful getting up hills and running faster.

Part of me wants to go do calf raises until I pass out. But that will mess with my running. I guess it will just take some time....ho hummm...

peak marathon training this summer. Good calves.

stress fx. day 1

Now. 2 months post broken leg .  Zero right calf.

It will get better. I'm actually surprised I can run without leg muscles. Go me! Clearly, I'm hard headed. Mind over matter. ha.

Party on peeps...

Laura

Happy Sunday my dears!

This week was fabulous m-f. I got some good mileage, some hills, cooler weather. Then the weekend came. I have children, small children. I didn't have anyone to watch them. Clearly, an uncomfortable thought  for any hardcore runner. So this is what I did:

Saturday: I put them in the middle of the track. An empty track. Sure, a soccer ball, a few frisbees. Brilliant! Kinda. All I wanted was 6 miles. The first mile they tested me. Every possible shit ass thing a small child could do they did. I got a frisbee to the legs, had to swerve a lane 1 kid blockade and listen to what a "slow poke" I was. lol.

Each of the first 4 laps I would yell back, "no park", "no smores tonight", "you better hope I keep running!"

So finally they found something to do and chilled out. They started high fiving me and throwing dandelions as I would pass. I was so happy. I could run and do child care!

I ended up doing 6 miles perfectly even at a 6:38 pace. Total surprise to me. I felt good and it was a little entertaining.

can't forget

Sunday, I couldn't deal with more track miles. So I waited all day until I could go out solo at night. Not my favorite especially when it's cold, dark and I want dinner. But hey-->
So I did an 8 miler at 7:29 pace through a hilly neighborhood.

So in the end I got 55 for the week when my goal was 50. I am happy. The thought of being under in my weekly mileage would haunt me all night. I needed to get it done for sanity's sake.

So the BOSU ball rocks. I've been doing ab ripper on the bosu ball when I wake up at 5:30 am.  Half the time I get vertigo because I'm still asleep and tipping all over the place.  But for one week back on abs I see promise. 

NOT a muffin top..I am grateful every day that I don't have one. I've
never had one but heard things. lol

That's about it. January 1st I start marathon training again. I am nervously excited!

Have a great week running!

Laura

A new fitness product!!!

Bosu Time!!

I've got the answer to getting some good core and arms: The Bosu ball!! I used to workout on this thing with my trainer years ago.  I saw it at Dick's Sporting Goods and a light went off. 

I need to up my arm workouts and abs. Now that I'm not swimming I feel weaker. So I put this in front of the fireplace and TV.  Instead of the couch I'm going to sit on my bosu ball and see how that works out..hahaha. I will keep you posted!

On the running front. I ran 51 miles this week. 13 of them averaging 6:45 pace. The rest at 7:0X-7:13. My long run was 10 miles. It's slowly coming back to me. I'm getting impatient but then again I'm not doing track or tempo runs or any real training...I'll get there!! Even if I have to run down a hill..lol. Those splits are coming down soon! 

Have a great Sunday!

LaBella!

Q&A with LaBella!

This is where I start most of my runs.

I know some bloggers do the Q&A blog posts every once in a while. I haven't really gotten into any of the average blogger trends. However, a lot of people ask me the same questions. I don't always have the answers. But it has made me think. So here is what I hear from people everywhere I go. Other runners, parents, neighbors, the people at Lowe's Food who see me drag my sweaty ass through their isles post run and so on:

What marathon are you going to do?


I have no idea. I have commitment issues. I plan to officially start training on 1/1 and hope to do a May marathon. I really want to do the American Discovery Trail Marathon in Colorado in Sept as well. Maybe as a long run though. I registered for it this last time and broke my leg 3 weeks before. So I really want to show that bitch who's boss.

What is your weekly mileage and do you still swim/bike?


45-50 on average. And no, for the first time in 3 years I've stopped swimming. And it's far too cold for the bike right now. Swimming killed my hair. I couldn't handle it any more. I can tell I'm not in swim shape. I miss it.

Do you get runner's high?


I've never thought about that. I'm usually happy when I run. But I'm not chasing down any special buzz. lol.

What shoes do you wear?


Right now I am in love with Brooks. I wear the Pure Flow daily. It is the best shoe I've ever owned. And I am a true running shoe snob. Only the best!

Don't you get cold wearing shorts in the winter?


Yes. My legs are typically beat red and numb. However, I don't like tights at all. They restrict my range of motion and I feel like too much fabric is going on. If it's snowing and I'm plowing through snow that touches my legs: tights rock. Otherwise I wear booty shorts for 35 degrees and up or tempo shorts if it's raining or 30ish.

Will you pace me in a race?


YES! Pacing is my favorite thing ever. I'll take 1:45 pacer half over a sub 90 solo half any day.

Do you have a coach?


Yes. I will have a schedule starting January 1.

Are you afraid you're going to break your leg again?


No. Bone heals stronger. I've broken all the popular spots on my tibia and fibula's. There's not much left.  I feel bionic. lol (knock on wood)

When are you going to stop hiding on the flat greenway and run hills again?


Soon. Please remember I was in a boot for a month and lost the majority of my right calf strength. I had no calf. It was traumatic for me when I realized there was nothing there. I limped for 3 weeks of running because I had one good leg. It's still not 100% but so much better. I feel like a runner again. I'm focused on building my base miles right now. Then I lay out some pretty stuff. ; ) Promise.

Did cross training help on your running come back? 


Yes and no. I was in good shape while I swam and biked 15 hours a week. I was unstoppable in the pool and okay on the bike. However...my first run back after my fx gave me a huge reality check. I had ZERO running fitness. I couldn't run half a mile at 9 pace. Total devastation.

Did aqua jogging help?


I did 1 hour 2-3 times a week. It helped with my overall fitness but I can't say it helped with my running. And I kinda half assed it.

What's up with your ab ripper?


Fail, again. I'm just not finding the time for abs. When I get home from my run I'm usually freezing and go straight to the shower. I am going to work on that!

Damn, now I feel lazy. I may go buy a bosu ball....; )

Later peeps. Happy Running!!

Laura