Weekly Report. An ending to a great week!

This week was another great week in the bag. I am 2 weeks out until my 10 mile race. I am excited and nervous at the same time. Coach thinks I can pull the run off at 8:30-8:40 if I am properly rested and Fueled. I have been running the coarse after a long training week and coming in in the low 9:00min/mile pace which is a big improvement from last year.

I have been having some mental blocks about this course and I talked with Coach about this tonight. She has told me I need to think why I am having these running blocks. Ill tell you a few reasons why:

1. I am faster than last year and want to prove these at the races
2. My legs are dead by mile 6 of the run because I am not on rested legs. I am going up the hill thinking my hammies hurt, my lungs hurt, people are passing me, WTF?! I get very down on the hills.
3. I am very competative, mostly with my own self.

Today I had an amazing run that boosted my spirits. I did end it short as I was caught in a windy rain storm. I did almost 4 miles in 32 min making my Ave 8:44min/mile. This was coming off a 3 hour trainer ride. I kept up with my nutrition the whole bike with drinking Hammer Perpetuem every 15min, Half a powerbar at 1:30.
I ALWAYS have better runs off the bike. Its insane!! I also have been paying much attention to my foot strike. Thinking of the Pose Method of running. Anyone think its a good method?? Its working for me. The concept is to get you more forward in running and thinking of a light foot, high cadence.

People talk about my bright colors while training. This week I wore my Lime Green Compression socks and my HOT pink Saucony Kinvaras. Last week, Hpt pink compression socks and Orange and Blue Brooks Racers. I like to be noticed. I like loud colors! Hey I had so many people know it was me! I even met the local weatherman and his wife this weekend in person and asked him to bring nice weather for the next 2 weeks!! Ha ha! I even had someone say I want to be your friend, you seem cool! Oh boy!

On last note, my last job interview (3 at the same place!!) really went well. Im crossing my fingers for that call this week to say I got the job! As long as the money is good I am so there! This place was wonderful! The people are just good people that work there.

Heres to another week in the bag:

Swim: 8694 yds- 2 hours 45 min
Bike: 6 hours 10 min- Trainer rides, Cycle classes.
Run: 21.17 miles- 4 hours 52 min
Strength- 1 hour
TOTAL TIME: 14:21:12

Happy Training!!

Its Wednesday already?!!

I have been slacking on my posts! I have been quite busy with training and work. I have been looking into a job at a new family practice office. I don't know if this was a wise choice in that Im training for an Ironman-Distance race at the same time!! Oh boy!

Last week was a downer week for me. I don't know if it was the weather or my hormones. I just wasn't feeling up to training and felt sluggish all week.

I missed a few workouts due to the fact that my daughter was sick. She came home from school on Thursday and just crashed pretty much through the weekend.

I ran the Mountain Goat training Run on Saturday with my running partner, Doug. Who is way faster than me. He left me at mile 6 and said see you for coffee at the end. I was kind of glad but in a way not because he was really pushing me up to this point. I kind of slacked off the last 4 miles doing my own thing. I came in 1 min faster than the previous week. I have been really bummed about this course this year. It is very hilly and I cant get my mind to cooperate. I think it has mentally put me down. I feel like I cannot take control. I have stopped running once on the hills. I feel my legs aching and my lungs coming out of my chest. Previous years I've done fine. But, I am running it faster this year...hmmm.

Sunday I biked the 70.3 course. Boy do I have some work to do on my bike. Took the new tri bike out but didn't feel 100% comfortable on it. I do need to do some tweeking. The hills got me bad. I only averaged a 16mph ride. I was pushing 20-23 on the flats but couldn't put the power down on the hills. Now coach has me doing bike rides all this week. I hope it will help.


See the dilemma here. On a flat run course...great..Flat bike course...awesome. Add the hills and I suck. Very frustrating and I think this is getting to me bad. I feel like I should be faster given that Im starting out about 10 lbs slimmer than last year!!

I have been a little bad with the eating the last few days and have gained 2 pounds..geesh. no clean eating and I gain. Back to the grinder

In good news, Swimming is going Fantastically! Just bought myself some new goggles as mine were leaking. they make me look BAD *SS..Like Cat woman from batman! LOL! along with my kitty suit you better watch out!!!

Last week numbers looked something like this:

Swim: 9405 yds - 3 hours
Bike 3hours outside 48 miles- 2 hours inside
Run: 3.85 hours- 24.1 miles
Strength: 1 hour

TOTAL TIME- 12 hours 51 min

Love of Shoes and other things

Its been a crazy week yet again. This week I am not into training. I don't know what it is. I have been focused, doing the workouts but just not feeling it at all. Im hoping this will pass.

I am admitting now that I am obsessed with shoes. Any kind of shoes too. I have a closet full of 3 shelves with all different kinds of shoes. Mostly clogs, slip ons, heels, boots. I am also now the owner of 6 pairs of running sneakers. These are the ones I use for running only. Not walking in. I have about 2 more I strictly walk in.

I recently Bought the Brooks St5 Racers. I know I said before that I hate Brooks shoes as they are too hard but the Racers are so light I love them. I ran 10 miles in them today and felt very springy in them. I usually get blisters on the inside of my feet with my running shoes. These didn't do this. Plus!

The only downside to these shoes, which may not be one, is that the heel feels like it is being pushed out due to its Support Build up at the arch. I am a neutral runner with my right foot but a pronator with my left so I feel it a little bit more. Maybe I can wear 2 different shoes? Ha!

My legs still feel fresh after 10 miles in these. Well not all the way fresh since it is all uphill. I just don't get why the Mountain Goat Run never gets easier for me. Maybe I need to work on my Mental Game now.

I also received my 2 grab bag Bathing Suits from Splish.com

Yep these are the 2 bathing suits I got. I love the Dragon One!! I feel fierce in it! And dont you just love the cat tail?!!!

Someone told me I was a salty sweater today. I know this. This is why I carry a gallon of fluids on me for every run! People pick on me but I know my body better than they do! I also need to get some S!Caps for electrolyte replacement in addition to my drinks.

As I am typing this my daughter is giving me the most amazing massage. Child Labor. Love it!!

Tomorrow is a 3 hour ride, 45min run, 1 hour ride. Yes, coach is trying to kill me.

Happy Training!!!

Mountain Goat Training Runs- Have BEGUN!

For any of you not familiar with the Mountain Goat. It is very Special Race Held Every year the First week in May. It is a 10 mile road race that was created in the 70's after men from the Local YMCA started running the Super hills of Syracuse. As their fitness improved so did the mileage. It actually started as a 17.5 mile course but they shortened it up a bit. They wanted a course that would be indeed challenging and provided a true sense of accomplishment upon completing. Over the years,many top ranked National runners have run this course. Joan Benoit, Benji Durden, Jeff Galloway, Jerry Lawson, Michelle LaFleur, Tom Carter, Kevin Collins and Deb Springer are all past winners of the Moutain Goat.

Here is the Elevation Profile:

Every Year Training runs are conducted by the Syracuse Track Club in sponsorship from Brooks Sports and PowerBar. The Training Runs are 6 consective Saturdays Starting this week and Stopping the weekend before the race. They build onto your mileage every week. This week started with 5.75 Miles and will Peak at 9 miles on the last run. Last year there were over 600 People at these training runs. YES TRAINING RUNS!! Can you tell how popular this race is for Syracuse?! They even supply water stops for these runs! Awesome!

This year they even let you wear a pair of Brooks on the run to see if you liked them. I thought that was neat. But, As a runner, I never wear a new pair of sneakers on a longer run. And, Im not a fan of Brooks. They are too heavy of a shoe for me unless I get the racers.

I ran with my Lake Effect Running Group today and we motivated each other to do 5.75 miles in 50:30 min. The hills are tough!!

Last year at this race I wasn't happy with my time. It got extremely hot during the run and they ran out of water at the 7 mile marker. This year Im hoping it will be a better race for me. More on the recap of last year when it gets closer to the race so that I may reflect before the day!

For more info visit http://www.mountaingoatrun.com/

Looking Dead at the Finish Line 2010