Friday, July 26, 2013

Marathon Training Week #7


I used to get butterflies every time I thought about running the treadmill at the gym because that meant SPEED INTERVALS. And running fast scares me. Or at least it used to.

I've been hammering the treadmill lately with my speed and tempo workouts. I've been sticking with my 3 days a week running schedule and I feel it's been working. I'm not killing my knees and I'm getting faster. Oh, and I discovered negative incline on the treadmill. Hooray! This will be great for my downhill training!

Monday: Swim 2300 yards
Tuesday: Speed intervals on treadmill, 1:01, 8 miles, 8x800 @ 6:40
Wednesday: Rode outside! Hill sprints, 6 x Cannon hill, 22.1 miles, 1:49
Thursday: Temp Run, 60 minutes, 8 miles, 3 @ 7:30, then 4 @ 7:00 with negative incline
Friday: Trainer, 70 minutes, 20 miles
Saturday: Trail run with Skyler, 16 miles, 2:38, 1/2 downhill

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Future Tour de France cyclist?


After three weeks of watching the Tour de France every morning, Desmond finally picked up his Strider Bike and rode it around the house. Let's hope he continues with the interest and keeps riding his bike for forever.

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Race Report: Divas 1/2 Marathon 2013

Looking back over my race reports today, I realized that I never wrote about my Divas 1/2 marathon from May. Maybe it's because I didn't consider it a race. Anyways...here it is!

Sparkle Athletic attended the Divas 1/2 Marathon expo in San Francisco, CA in May. We didn't have plans to run the race, but that changed the night before when we decided it would be the easiest way to take photos. So we signed up just hours before the race started.

Our hotel was about 1.5 miles from the start so we decided to jog to the start line as a warm-up. I was misinformed of the starting time and we quickly learned of that as we heard the starting gun as we were running to the start line. No biggie, right? It would be easier for photos.

By the time we got to the start line, everyone had left. We were the last people to start. Our plan was to run through the race and take as many photos with Team Sparkle friends as we could.

I have to admit...this was the most fun I've had in a 1/2 marathon ever. I guess that's what happens when you don't actually race. Carrie and I worked the cameras and ended up with 150 photos. We chatted with people, ran backwards, and photo bombed each other's pictures. It was awesome!



Divas puts on a great race! Near the end they hand out tiaras and feather boas. Then, you receive your medal from a shirtless fireman. After all that, they have champagne (and sparkling cider). Seriously, these race directors know what they are doing.

And even after all the stops, photos, and talking, I finished in 1:56:26. Not bad.

I'm looking forward to our next Divas race.

Monday, July 15, 2013

Marathon Training Week #6

What a week! My marathon training is really coming along. My speed is getting faster and my distance is getting longer. I think that's the toughest part is getting my legs used to running for that long.

Monday: Trainer, 17 miles, 60 minutes
Tuesday: Speed training, 7.6 miles (1600 @ 7:03 x 4), 60 minutes
Wednesday: Swim, 1650 yards, 32 minutes
Thursday: Tempo run, 7.2 miles (4.2 @ 7:30 and 1 @ 7:10), 55 minutes
Friday: Trainer, 20 miles, 1:10
Saturday: Rest
Sunday: Long slow run, 16 miles, 2:30


Pumpkin ran with Skyler on Saturday for 13 miles and Sunday with me for 16 miles. She was pooped for the rest of the weekend. She is a great running partner. During our run she got to run off-leash for 11 of the 16 miles and she loved it. The second she was back on-leash she slowed down again. Typical Pumpkin.

Friday, July 12, 2013

Race Report: 4th of July "5k" 2013


Our church puts on a FREE 5k every 4th of July. It's a fun event that we've enjoyed doing the past 5 years. This year was just as great, although I was recovering from strep throat so my body was a bit weak.

We woke up bright and early for the race so we could get the dog and the boy ready. We left Pumpkin at home, but brought Desmond and the stroller to the race with us. Luckily we were able to find someone to watch him for 20 minutes while we did the race or else I was going to have to push him.

We did an easy 1/3 mile warm-up so get the juices flowing. 5k is such a short distance.

The race began and everyone shot off like a cannon. Seriously, everyone was going a 5:30/mile pace. Too crazy for me. No problem because I passed lots of them as they adjusted. I chugged along at a fast pace and felt ok. I was 3rd place woman for the first mile. Then I turned around and noticed a women right behind me. I picked up the pace and she matched it. Around Mile 1.5 we hit an uphill. I tried to keep a fast pace, but it was tough. She passed me and I was a bit defeated, but kept going. 

Mile 3 begins at the top of a long downhill. I wasn't too far behind 2nd and 3rd, so I began to be hopeful again. I slowly started gaining on them. I passed the woman who had passed me before. The hill leveled out, but surprisingly I passed the other girl, who was 1st last year at this race. I told her to keep up with me, but I think she was a bit deflated.

I had about 1/2 mile left, yet my body was feeling so weak. I began counting in my head and told myself I would be done before I reached 200. I made the last turn to the finish line and wanted to sprint, but I had nothing left. I just needed to keep my pace and I would do it. Yes! 2nd place! I was so happy! 20:33 was my time. I think I did it in 20:03 last year, but I certainly didn't have strep throat last year.

I was 2nd overall woman and 1st in my age group. Not bad for an old, marathon-training Ironman.


Mile 1 6:47
Mile 2 7:21
Mile 0.92 6:42

Skyler didn't do so bad either. He had the same awards as me: 2nd overall male and 1st in his age group. He finished about 2 minutes faster than me. He was disappointed in his time because he knows he can go faster, but I'm proud of him. 1st place was a super-fast 17 year-old. Hard to compete with age.

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Marathon Training Week #5

Like I mentioned in my last post, I got strep throat. I thought I was just being a baby, but I was relieved to learn it was a serious pain. Monday was the day I was diagnosed, so I took that day and the next off. I'm really trying to learn to listen to my body when it tells me to slow down. Next was a mid-week 5k and I ended the week with my long run. I was supposed to do 16 miles, but I did a group trail run instead, so I converted to time running (16 miles = 2-1/2 hours) and did that instead. I'll be back on track this week.

Monday: Rest (Strep....ahh!)

Tuesday: Rest (feeling a little better)

Wednesday: Swim! I took it easy because I was still recovering. 2000 yards, 40 minutes

Thursday: 4th of July "5k." This run is a bit short (2.95 miles). Last year I was prepared and killed it, but this year was a different story. I'm in the middle of marathon training, plus recovering from strep throat. I still ended up doing well and was so happy for the race to be over. My whole body was ready to give up. I'll give the race report later. But of course I didn't feel like the race was enough and had to run an extra 2.5 miles and do a 45-minute Nike strength workout. (By the way, finished 2nd overall woman.)


Friday: Took the boy for a bike ride in his trailer. We rode 19 miles, 1:30.

Saturday: Met with a new run group. They do long runs every Saturday morning. I didn't realize it, but that day they were doing trails. I had a great time and loved running in new places. Our run was about 10 miles and 2 hours. I needed more miles and time, so I added an additional 3 miles and 30 minutes. 3700' of climbing for the day. And I didn't feel too bad after. Success!

Monday, July 8, 2013

Marathon Training Week #4

Trying to stay on track with my messed-up foot and did ok this week. It was supposed to be a pretty easy week, so I think I accomplished that.

Monday: Kinda a rest day, but I still did a 45-minute Nike strength workout

Tuesday: Speed intervals on treadmill, 8x800s. 7.25 miles, 55 minutes. Halfway through interrupted by kids club to change a poopy diaper. At least I got to finish my workout after.


Wednesday: 60 minutes on trainer

Thursday: Tempo workout with local run club. 4.25 miles with 4 @ 7:30 pace
Swim workout with fastest 100 ever, 1:26

Friday: 75 minutes on trainer

Saturday: Group ride with tri club, 43 miles, 2:40 with tons of climbing

Sunday: I was supposed to only do a 6-mile run, but with a jump to 16 the next week I figured I should do a little more. The heat and strep throat zapped me and I struggled to finish, but I did. 10 miles, 1:32.