44 Days: Weight Training & 5 mile run

FINALLY! I felt like I had a really good run. One of those runs that could have kept on going. I just kept making loops around my neighborhood - feeling great! I kept saying to myself, "wow, I'm really in good shape!" Who knows what tomorrow will hold but I'll take what I can get for now!

46 Days: Running Club Night

Tonight I went to my running club class. We had a guest speaker, Mike Seaman, a long time runner and coach. Unfortunately we didn't get started running until 7:30 and the humidity was almost unbearable. I made it one time around the lake. Right now I'm also thinking about tomorrow's BodyStep class. I have to introduce new choreography, that's always a lot of work. It's always something....

49 Days: 16 Mile Run

I was nervous going into this morning's run. Last week I struggled with 14 to the point of questioning what I was doing. Fortunately today went quite well. I think that two factors went into today's success:

1. The weather - it was at least 20 degrees cooler this morning than last week
2. My Friday's Diet - I intentionally ate more carbohydrates throughout the day on Friday prepping my body for today's run.

We ran on the Gateway Trail starting under 694 in North St. Paul, running past Manning Ave. towards Stillwater then turning around to the finish. It was a beautiful trail. The rain began with 3 miles remaining - but we kept on running.

For the majority of the run we did 5 and 1 (run 5 minutes, walk 1 minute). This method really helps the body adjust to the long distance. I ran with the same 5 people I have been with for the majority of my long runs. We are all members of Salubrious, a non-profit running group lead by a friend of mine from the YMCA. This group has been a life saver for me, there is no way I could have done this on my own!

I took a nap for most of the afternoon to rest my body. My left glut/hip is bothering me again today. The muscle tightens up so much that any pressure is quite painful. I'm debating about getting it "looked at" but then I think this is just normal muscle pain after running long distances.

50 Days - Weight Lifting & 3 Mile Run

Bad, bad day. I taught BodyPump this morning which acts as my weightlifting cross training. Then despite every ounce of my body refusing to continue, I forced myself out for a run. I ran along the Mississippi in DT St. Paul, a couple blocks from work. It didn't go well, in fact there was a time I actually sat on a park bench to watch the river flow by. Not exactly good for training. But the river was peaceful.

2007 TCM

I did it. In May I signed up to run the Twin Cities Marathon. Training has been going - well - ok. I'm devoting a section of my blog to my training. Look under the label "TCM TRAINING"

The race is October 7th - check out the details:

http://www.mtcmarathon.org/

If you know me - I'd love to have you out on the course cheering me on!

51 Days Until Race Day: Cross Training

Today is Wednesday which means "BodyStep" day. BodyStep is the most difficult and rigurous cardio class that I teach. (I'm a part-time fitness instructor) After an hour of leading power step moves to over 20 participants, I am not in the mood to go for a jog. There were times I could tell my legs were tired, but I kept going, can't look weak in front of the members!



The problem lies in the fact that I have to learn a NEW BodyStep routine by next week. This is NOT an easy task and memorizing the routine depends on a lot of practice and rehearal. This is something that I don't have. Not only is it difficult to find TIME to practice, but energy. I keep saying I need to cut down on classes as the training becomes more intense, but I can't seem to take my own advice!

I'm Back!

Ok so I took a small sabbatical from writing in my BLOG. Well I'm back. Unfortunately you will now all have to read about my marathon training since that is all I think about lately.