Friday, January 21, 2011

January 19th - I know I know - 3 days off!!!

I decided to take a rest day on Sunday, ending my 16 day streak. I was very tired and I just wanted to sit down and relax and watch some football with Dad. We won't disguss that. Anyway, Monday was my last day of winter break, well, it should have been. So I decided to enjoy it and just relax for the day. Tuesday, we had our snow storm and it wasn't very good to run in, so I decided to take another day off. Well, it was time for me to get my Half Marathon butt into gear. I decided to run on the treadmill after classes on Wednesday and incorporate some weight training. Well, a lot of good that did. I only made it 2 miles before my legs started to turn on me and tell me they didn't want to run anymore. I decided to walk around the indoor track a couple of times to cool off. I lifted some weights and I did some leg exercises as well. I tried to get back on the treadmill to get in another 1.11 to finish off the 5k but I couldn't do it. My legs were too dead. I hope this doesn't affect my performance at the Fudgcicle 5k on Satruday. This week hasn't been too good to me, hopefully I am able to kick it back into gear and get back into the training.

(I hate these things!!!)

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Januraty 15th - Tewksbury - Fudgcicle 5k

I woke up this morning at about 6. At about 6:30 I ate two pieces of toast with peanut butter and had a glass of OJ. Let me tell you, it made a world of a differnce. At the end of today's race, I felt great! Anyway, my dad and I arrived and found Jessica, who was putting up signs. I hoped out of the car and helped her put up the last few signs. We made our way back to the start where I paid my dollar and then chatted with some people before the start. I sat in the car for a little bit to warm up before the race. At this time, it was 3 degrees farenheit. Still not a "REAL" fudgcicle race because it wasn't below zero, but it was still very cold. Most of us were bundled up in full face masks and gloves and multiple layers. I had a head band and gloves on with 2 shirts and a wind breaker. As I started my face was going numb. My head wasn't very cold so I took my head band down and put around my face to warm up my chin. At the same time, I could barely feel my toes. Well, what was I to do? I continued to run the race and tried not to think about it. Joseph Ferris caught me and Amanda and he started to run with us. We chated most of the way. Amanda took the lead for a while; however, as we rounded about mile 2.5, Joe and I picked up the pace to sub eight minute miles. About a mile before that, I took off my gloves because my hands were getting too hot. I noticed that there was frost building up my arm hairs and my facial hair. I didn't realize why until the end. The sweat was freezing up. We all looked like snowmen.

(BRRRR!!!)

This was a fun race today. I improved my time from last week by almost two minutes. Great Race today. Can't wait to do it all again next week!!!

January 14th - Training - Lowell - 4.75

I arrived in Lowell at about 3:40. I had told Kelly I'd be ten minutes late to our scheduled 3:30 run. She asked if she should just go ahead and I'd catch up with her. I told her, she could do what she wanted, but I asked if she would wait so that I can run with her, and when I'm done, come back for her so I could add on a little mileage. Well, we ran to the Rourke Bridge and when we were about to go up the stairs, we slowed to a stop because they were covered with snow. Fortunately there were foot prints already made, so we followed them.

(Better than nothing!!!)


We made our way up the stairs and much to Kelly's dismay, she couldn't remember if she locked her car. I decided to take her key and run back and make sure it was locked. She continued going and I picked up the pace to catch up to her. We met up at Dunkins on Middlesex Street because we both had to relieve our bladders!!! (I know, Kelly, I'm a dork!!!) I continued on our run and tried to get a lead on her so that later on I'd could go back and get her and add some extra mileage. Well, she kept up pretty well and when I was done, she was only about two minutes behind me. Anyway, as we made our way over the School Street Bridge, I had to make a choice, go on the road or go on the snow-filled path. Well, I made the dumb choice by jumping into the foot or more of snow and having to extend my strides to get through. I thought it was going to clear up but it didn't. It was never cleaned up. I ended up having to climp up on top of the snow and jump onto the shoulder of Riverside Street. For those of you who don't know, that's the boulevard (RT 113). I made my way down and as I got onto the path, I tried to pick up the pace so that I was under ten minute miles. I did that and made my way to the finish, and of course, even though I was alone, I made sure I said, I SEE DUNKINS!!!!

(MMM COFFEE!!!)

I was on my way back to get Kelly when I realized she was very close. I ran a little passed her and then turned around, caught her, and gave her our keys so she could start our cars while I finished off with 4.75 miles. I had about a tenth to go so I just wanted to finish it up. Kelly said she felt good running. She took her inhaler before we started. She said this time, it wasn't the breathing that was the issue, she got really hungry, and her stomach kept tightening up. MMM FOOD!!! Other than that, she said her run was good. My run was great, except for jumping in and out of snow banks!!!

Thursday, January 13, 2011

January 13th - Hudson, NH - Training - 5

I had worked 12-4 today and decided that I wanted to continue my running streak to make it 2 full weeks of running. I had eaten food right after work (I gotta stop doing that!!!)


(They are soooooo good!!!!)

I decided to go home and take a hot bath to help my back out because it has been hurting a little bit. This was perfect. It gave me time to digest my food and it helped my back heel up a little bit. After I got out of the tub it was about 5:15. I got dressed in my running clothes, put on my vest and head lamp and headed out. It was about 5:30 when I started my run. I planned on doing 5 miles. I started around my neighborhood the same way I started my 3.5 miler from last night. After a few miles I made my way onto the main road for about half a mile. It wasn't too bad as I had on my vest which was blinking orange and my head lamp which was blinking the regular color of a flash light. Plus, I had my hand flash light to shine on the road for extra visibilility. I made my way back to into the T-Bones parking lot and back into my neighborhood. I was at 4.1 miles when I decided which way I was giong to go to end my 5 mile run.



(ALWAYS MADE FRESH!!!)


I was at about a 9:55 pace in the last mile and I ended down hill then flat. I picked up the speed significantly and dropped a minute in my pace. In turn, my average pace went from 9:57 to 9:44. This was an awesome last mile and I'm glad that I finished strong. I needed this run and I'm glad I got it done!!!


January 12th - Late Night Run - 3.5

Well, it was about 9:30 when I decided that I wanted to go for a late night run. I decided to let my dinner digest a little bit longer seeing that I had only eaten an hour prior to my thought of going out for a run. I ended up leaving my house at 11:03 PM. I planned on only doing a 5k. I decided to do the same route my dad took me on 2 weeks ago when we did our 3.5 miles together. It was a boring route because I kept running around the same area; however, it got the miles in and that's all that counts. It was almost mind numbing as I kept running around the same streets.


(That is how I felt the entire time!)

As I was about mile 2.5 I could feel the urge to go to the bathroom. I figured it would pass as I kept going. It passed for a few minutes; but, at mile 3, it came back. Once I got to my street at about 3.2, I had to decide if I should just stop at my driveway go down the street and back to make it the entire 3.5. I decided quickly that I was gonna finish off the 3.5 and run all the way down the street. I am deffinitely glad that I finished my 3.5, but it felt more like 14 miles, if you catch my drift. LOL. (Jason, you got mentioned in my blog!!!) haha!!! Anyway, it was a slower run because of the snow that wasn't cleaned up well on the side streets. There wasn't much traction in some spots because there was so much snow. It was a good 3.5 miles and I'm glad I got that in to continue the streak!!!

(I could have used one of these during my run!!!)

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

January 11th - Long - 7 miles - 1 big hill

Today was a good day for me. Unfortunately, Kelly had a headache, so she had to cancell our planned four mile run around the boulevard. I took this opportunity to get in my long run for the week at home. My planned long run was with Amanda was supposed to be tomorrow; however, she had to cancell too because one of us would have had to drive to the other one's house in order to run together; and with the amount of snow we are supposed to be getting, it isn't a good idea.


(Not sold in stores!!!)


So I planned on doing six by myself around Hudson. I knew a 6 mile route I could do with a decent hill. New Bedford is coming up in about 2 months and I need a few decent hill workouts.

I made my way towards my old elementary school which put me at 1 mile into my 6 mile run. I mad my way towards the street with the big hill. The beginning wasn't bad, a few rolling hills in the beginning and then came the big incline!!! I was ready to take this hill and feed it to the bottom of my running shoes. I didn't slow my pace down too much while going up the hill. It wasn't too bad in the beginning. I didn't really start to feel the incline until I made it half way up. Then it sunk into my legs and back. After I made it up the hill, there was no where to go but down. I made my way down Burns Hill Road and onto Wason Road. I then decided that I'm going to add on a little bit extra to make it 7 miles, my scheduled long run for the week. I made my way down Wason Road, and with no shoulder it was very difficult to run, especially at 5pm when everyone was getting out of work.

When I started my run it was light out; however, I knew that I would still be running by the time it got dark; therefore, I made sure I had a vest and head lamp and flash light with me so that I could be seen from all angles; although, apparently not everyone wants to be seen while on the road. Some idiot is speeding down with not headlights on. That is one of my biggest pet peeves, when people don't turn on there lights at night!!! I made sure I was visible, he should have too. Anyway, I kept going down the road where I came upon a street called "Empire Circle" I assumed that it was a cul-de-sac. I ran up the street, it was a nice incline, and indeed it was a cul-de-sac. I came down the hill hitting mile 4. It wasn't too bad of a run so far. I made my way down Wason Road and towards Market Basket and onto Lowell Road. I made my way onto the main road and knowing that I still needed to add I little bit more to make my 7 miles, I went down and back a side street and in and around a few parking lots. I made my way back towards T Bones (oh those yummy bacon cheddar fries) and a finished strong with 7 miles just before my street.

(I love this place!!!)

I deffinitely felt like I could have gone much longer, but I want to stick to my training schedule and 7 is my max for the week. Glad I got that done and over with!!! 

January 10th - Training - 4 miles with Kelly

Again, Kelly and I met up on the boulevard. We started at the boat house parking lot and made our way over the rourke bridge. This time, we started at 3:30 so it was much lighter out from start to finish. It was such a relief not having to worry about wearing the vests or head lamp. We made our way through the traffic and we continued running down middlesex street. I made some videos with my dad's new flip video, but I'm not going to upload them here. I'm a very impatient person. (LOL!!!) We continued running and the wind was about 3-5mph against with us. That side of the river was nice; however, we always like it when we are back onto riverside street, because that means we are almost done. This is a song that I love to play in my head when I'm halfway done a training run or a race.

(WOAH WE'RE HALF WAY THERE!!!)

It's a very motivational part of the song lol!!! I like to play it in my head when I'm in a race. We made our way down the boulevard and onto the path in broad daylight. Man, do we have guts or what? lol. Personally, that route never gets old to me; however, we are going to change it up a bit because I need to start blogging about different routes. We made our way to the finish line and completed our four miles strong. It was a slower run than usual. It took us a little over 50 minutes but we made it. Yay!!! lol!!!