MON, 8/17/2015 HEALTH & NUTRITION

I am on my last day of a five day regimen of Ciprofloxacin HCL 500MG TAB.  I'm not sure if 5 days is enough.  The pain in my does seem less today, almost gone.  I can feel it, only if I press very hard.

SUN, 8/16/2015 TRAIL

I wasn't sure how I would feel today, so I planned to do a 2 1/2 mile run, but I felt pretty good, so added a trail.  I could feel my side, but I wouldn't describe it exactly as pain.  It felt like how I feel when I am about to get side stitches.  I surely didn't break any speed records, but I got it done.

Aug. 1st-15th REST

I was forced into a longer than expected break.  I scheduled to take August 1-7th off.  I figured that my body needed recovery after the hard month, and we went to Cabo San Lucas for 6 dasy.  Although I didn't run in Cabo, I walked a lot everyday around the enormous resort.  I did water aerobics and zumba, although I didn't exactly push it.

My plan was to run about 30 miles from August 9-15th.  My body had different plans.  Last Tuesday, I was incapacitated by serious stomach cramps, nausea, diarrhea, etc.  I thought that I had food poisoning or possibly a virus from Mexico.  It got better, but when I finally went to urgent care, the doctor thought it was a bladder infection that might have spread to my kidneys  I haven't felt great this week, so I haven't run at all.  Everyday, I hope that my side won't be hurting, but everyday it hurts.  I will probability run tomorrow, no matter what.

Between August 1-15th, I've run once--the morning route.

FR, 7/31/2015 JULY RECAP

My total monthly mileage was 216.3.  I'm really happy to have reached my 200 goal.  Sometimes I didn't want to run.  My family thought that I was running too much.  It is nice that I put my mind to something and achieved it.

I'm tired, and I think that my body needs a break.  I'm not even taking my running shoes to Cabo!

FR, 7/31/2015 EASY

Although I marked this as an easy run, my pace was too slow.  I think I could have run a little faster, but I just didn't want to.  My ankle felt fine.  I was just sluggish.

My run kept being interrupted.  When I first started, I spotted my neighbor, so I ran back to tell her something.  We spoke, and then I continued, but I forgot to start my watch again.  I estimated where the 1/2 mile mark was and just started the watch at that spot.

After a short stint, I had to go to the bathroom a little bit, but I assumed that the bathroom at the park would be closed.  As I approached the park, I told myself not to stop, but for some reason, I forgot the conversation that I had just had with myself and checked the bathroom anyway.  Of course it was locked.  Because I stopped, the urge to go increased, so I had to go to the porta pottie.

As soon as I got going again, I spotted an unleashed dog in the distance.  I decided to change my route a little to avoid the dog, so I had to wait to cross the street.  When I stopped at the hotel, the bathroom was being cleaned.

I just couldn't get into this run.  Pace 9:07-total mileage 11.5

TH, 7/30/2015 REST

I woke up and my hives were completely gone.  Thank goodness.

The top of my left foot hurts a little.  It hurts near the top of my foot where my leg and foot meet (opposite the ankle).  The pain is the area that is circled on the pic below.  I had planned a neighborhood run, but I will take a rest day and an ibuprofen.

WED, 7/29/2015 TRAIL

I woke up with sore legs from squatting yesterday.  I need to do legs, at the gym, twice a week.  I seem to get sore every time just doing it once a week.  I did the Rice Ranch West route in the morning after some coffee.  My pace was good (9:57), not fantastic.  I waited a little too late, because I was really hungry.  I had some yogurt after.

I got very busy and didn't get a chance to have lunch.  By dinner, I was starving, but I managed to hold out without snacking.  I did have an ice cream sandwich after dinner, though.

Weirdly, after dinner, I broke out in hives over my chest, underarms and back.  Even some on my face.  It itched terribly.  My DH went and got me some benedryl.  Hopefully, I will be fine, tomorrow.

TU, 7/28/2015 EASY, 200 Miles Completed

I ate a quick breakfast, warmed up on the TM and headed out for the 4.5 miles neighborhood route.  The run felt difficult, but I managed a quick finish.  This run put me over the 200 mark for July!

7/27/2015 TRAIL

I did a 1 mile warm-up on the TM & the usual trail route.  My pace felt like a relatively easy pace.  Of course, the hard parts were hard, but otherwise it was fine.

7/26/2015 RECOVERY

I warmed up on the TM for a 1/2 mile & did another .6 at a recovery pace.  DH and I went to the park and did a 6 mile loop.  My 200 mile goal is in sight.  It is a good thing, because I am tired of running.

SAT, 7/25/2015 Long

I was scared that my back would be hurting this morning, but it wasn't.  I didn't take anything last night, because I drank some wine.

Normally, I start my long run with my DH, but his knee is swollen, so he decided not to run with me this morning.  I ate a bagel, had coffee and drank 16 oz. of water.  I took a Detrol LA, an asthma pill, and an electrolyte.  Are you supposed to take an electrolyte before you run?  It took forever for me to get out the door.  The clothes that I had decided to wear were uncomfortable when I warmed up, so I had to change them.  I had to go to the bathroom over and over.  I got worried because the frequent bathroom trips were dehydrating me.  Maybe I was nervous just thinking about doing such a long run.  I don't know what my problem was, but my stomach was upset.  I wore the older Cliftons for this part of the run.  I would love to somehow get 500 miles out of those shoes.  It isn't going to happen.  The weather was overcast when I set out, but I could tell it would be sunny before I finished.  I kept a pretty good pace on part one.  I ran into some friends on a downhill portion and stopped and chatted for a minute.  The overall pace was 8:53 which is about as fast as I can expect.

When I got to the house, I took entirely too long.  I drank 8 oz. of coconut/pineapple water.  It is better than plain coconut, but still nasty.  I probably had 4 oz of water and took and electrolyte pill.  I already had my raisins and electrolyte set up in the bag, so I didn't have to mess too much with that.  I completely changed my clothes and shoes.  I put on the newer Cliftons.  I warmed up again (only .25) on the TM.  All this took at least 20 minutes.

I ran a pretty good pace and ate my raisins at the end of the bike path (turn-around point).  I only stopped long enough to get the raisins down. I tried to do the last 3/4 mile at a steady-state pace.  Interval 13 was at 7:50.  It was a full 1/2 mile and not quite steady-state.  The last interval was only .27 miles, but I did reach the steady state pace of 7:40.  the over all pace pace from the house to the raisins was 8:49.

I thought that I would try steady-state again since I only had about a mile to the hotel, but I lost my desire to try and didn't even make go of it.

I took a little too long at the hotel.  I drank water and took my electrolyte, but I forgot to use the restroom.  As soon as I started running, I thought about it, but it was just too much to turn back, so I kept moving forward.  Of course, it was a struggle to keep in under a 9:00 minute mile, but I just managed it.

I initially thought that I might do a neighborhood cool-down, but I didn't.

Since I didn't have to avoid a dog this time, the whole experience was a little less running.  I almost hit 20 miles last week.  This run was 19 in total.  The total for the week is 55, and I am on track to complete my goal of 200 for the month.  I had no cramping whatsoever, so maybe starting with an electrolyte helps.  My knee was bothering a little the whole run.  My body is ready for a break.

FRI, 7/25/2015 REST

I spent about 7 hours in the car.  My back hurts.  No running, though.

TH, 7/23/2015 WALK, EASY

I started the morning with a walk with a friend.  I brought my watch, but I forgot to press start.  It was ,probably, 2.5-3 miles.

I went out at about noon to do quick trail run.  I was very tired.  I'm tired of running this week.  I'm glad I have a day off tomorrow.

WED, 7/22/1015 EASY, STEADY STATE

I know I have to speed up the pace on some of these runs or I'm really going to be a slug.  The weather was perfect-cool and overcast.  My glasses kept getting fogged up, though, not from change in temperature, but the dew outside.  I tried to go for a steady steady pace at the beginning of this run, but I didn't make it.  I think that will be my goal. I need to run it at 7:45 pace.

 The last 4.5 I did at an easy pace.

TUES, 7/21/2015 MORNING, WEIGHTS

It was a warm morning.  We didn't keep the strongest pace in the world, but we got it done.  The weak pace was my fault.  I take the lead in the beginning, but we were slow getting up the first hill.

I was determined to go to the gym and do legs again, so I wouldn't be so sore, again.  When DH got home, we went to the Y.  It was really crowded with teenagers.  DH was very frustrated with the state of the free weight room.  I would have been, but I had my DH to re-rack all those 45's for me.  We had to do things out of order, but we got done what needed to be done.

MON, 7/20/2015 EASY

I can only describe the run as horrible.  It was extremely hot very high humidity.  I carried water, because this is probably the hottest temps that I have ever ran in other than the 5K in Hawaii.  I started with a pretty brisk pace, but I quickly had to take a breather.  I stopped right before the bike path and finished off my water.

From the first bike path to the hotel, I was able to keep an easy pace.

At the hotel, I drank my fill of water, took an electrolyte and filled my water bottle.  When I left the hotel, I got about one good mile and then I reverted to walk/run.  It was a long, awful run home.

SUN, 7/19/2015 RECAP, RECOVERY, STRETCH

53.4 miles last week is pretty sweet.  I am within striking distance of the 200 miles goal.

After this month, I will try to eliminate some of my pit-stops, and make a concerted effort to shorten them when I do take them  I will probably have to carry water.  Everything is working so well right now, that I don't want to change anything that might jeopardize the 200 miles.

In August, I have to get serious about speedwork--ugh...

I did the slowest recovery run imaginable.  2.59 miles in 27:31 (pace-10:37) followed by Dynamix (P90X3).  I skipped lunges and stopped the DVD at side banana.

SUN, 7/18/2015 Very Long

Last night my right knee hurt a little bit.  I thought about icing it, but I didn't.  When I woke up, my legs were still sore, but my left hamstring felt a lot better.  My right hamstring was still sore.  Both of my quads were still a little sore.

I warmed up on the TM for .75 miles, I felt my right knee a little.  Since this run starts with an uphill, I think that I will try and consistently warm-up .75 instead of .5 on the TM when I run it.  Part 1 of the long run went well. We ran faster than usual keeping a 9:03 pace, overall.  The weather was clear and cool.

I stopped home to go to the bathroom, change my shirt, and pack my raisins.  I drank 8 oz of coconut/pineapple water and 8 oz of water with an electrolyte pill.  I'm pretty sure that drinking so much slows me down, but I haven't had to carry water yet.  Because I took so long, I did a quarter mile on the TM before I headed out again.

I ran out of my house down my street and at just about at the end of my street, I spotted, what appeared to be a stray dog.  He didn't look menacing, but he looked mangy.  I turned around and ran all the way back (up hill).  I never recovered my pace after that effort.  I couldn't muster an easy pace at all, so I decided to add the bike path for a couple of more miles.  I didn't feel bad, but I couldn't go any faster.  I stopped after about 3 miles to go to the bathroom.  At the very end of the last bike path, I ate my raisins.  At the hotel, I had the electrolyte pill.  My pace got slower and slower.  I started getting cramps in my right upper thigh.

When I got home, I wanted to do a recovery run.  I drank some water and even went outside, but I turned back, and didn't do it.

19.75 miles total

FRI, 7/17/2015 REST

I woke up pretty sore.  I used the ultrasound on my hamstrings.  I, also, used the ultra-sound on them last night and took an ibuprofen 800.  As the day has progressed, I'm feeling less sore.  I will ultra-sound them one more time before I go to bed.

TH, 7/16/2015 EASY

I had so much to do today that I hoped to get up very early and run, but the boys had a track meet and we didn't get home until late.  I didn't wake-up until about 7:30 and, then, I had to wait for the cable guy.

I woke up ridiculously sore.  I finally ran about 3:30.  I warmed up on the TM for .75 miles.  It was windy.  I took the usual pitstop.  The run was very difficult and my legs feel raw now that I am finished.  I did 11 miles at 8:55 and did a neighborhood cool down.

WED, 7/15/2015 TRAIL

I warmed up for a mile on the TM & ran the Rice Ranch West trail (3.3 @ 9:26).  I ended with the neighborhood cool down.

DH & I went to the gym & did a leg workout.  There is no doubt that I am going to be sore tomorrow.

TUE, 7/14/2015 EASY, MORNING

We got an early start, getting up at 4:30 for morning run.  I didn't think that we ran particularly fast.  I felt tired, but I think we went really fast up the 2nd hill.   I conked out a little before the house.

I went inside, drank some water & about 8 oz of coconut water.  I used the bathroom and went out for another 5 miles. It was extremely hard to maintain a 9 minute mile.

I ended with a neighborhood cool down.

Total miles=11.5

MON, 7/13/2015 TRAIL

I started with a 1 mile warm-up on the TM.  All three of us, started out, but the boys didn't warm-up very well, so they thought starting pace was too fast.  It was only 8:53.  They need to warm up a little more.  I stopped at the gate and waited for both of them.

DS1 took off.  DS2 and I started together, but he outpaced me up the initial hill.  He waited for me, but his paced slowed significantly after we all met up.  DS1 took off again.  DS2 & I started together, but eventually, I got too far ahead of him and waited.  When he caught up he told me that his knee hurt.  We walked from that point.  DS1 walked DS2 home and left me to repeat some of the run.

The trail portion ended up being 3.3 miles at a 10 minute pace.  The total mileage for the day was 4.8 miles.

When my DH, got home, the entire family did the challenge tape together.  I didn't do the last few minutes.

SUN, 7/12/2015 REST

I had planned to do a recovery run, but I took a nap instead.

SAT, 7/11/2015 LONG

This Saturday was a repeat of last Sat's long run.

I got up at 6. I had 16 oz. of water, a whole grain bagel & coffee.  I thought I had a energy bar bagel, last week, but actually it was whole grain.  It was pretty nasty.  I smothered it in cream cheese to get it down.  Tony and I got out of the house at about 7:40.

We ran our hilly route, slightly faster than last week.

When I got home, I had 8 oz. of coconut water, 8 oz. of water and an electrolyte pill.  I headed out and took the long route to the hotel.  I had to stop at Pioneer Park to use the facilities, but it was a quick stop.

At the hotel, I had a small box of yogurt raisins and an electrolyte pill.  Then, I ran home.

Overall, I felt strong, but it was overcast.  The last leg of the run was much faster than last SAT.

FRI, 7/10/2015 REST

Besides a short walk to the restaurant from Sycamore on the Avila bike path, I didn't do a thing.

TH, 7/9/2015 HILL

I don't know how I think that I can keep this up for a month.  I am already worn out.

I started out on the TM for a warm up.  I went out for part 1 of the route and stopped at home.  I did a mile on the TM at an easy pace.  Drank some water and took an Endurolyte Extreme, then went out for the rest of the run.  My pace was slow.  The whole thing was difficult.  I'm glad that I don't have to run tomorrow.

WED, 7/8/2015 TRAIL

The kids and I worked out at home.  We only did one body part (chest).  As usual, I didn't do much.

After, I did .5 on the TM and ran rice ranch west.  It was windy, and I didn't particularly feel like doing it.

TU, 7/7/2015 EASY

I woke up pretty soar from yesterday's pull-ups.  The kids and I were suppose to work-out at home, but, really, I just watched them work out.  I was too busy to run in the morning, so I waited until the afternoon.  It was extremely windy.  My DH ran with me.  He went on his longest run, ever.  I wish I could say I enjoyed this run, but I didn't.  I don't like running in the wind.  I was sore, and it was just hard.

MON, 7/6/2015 TRAIL

I took my son to the YMCA.  I squatted 25 lbs and only got in one set on the reverse press with (2) 45.  I did some upper back after that, but mostly just messed around.  My right knee was hurting in the gym.  It feels like runners knee.

When we got home, I warmed up on the TM for .75, then I did a mile at an easy pace.  Then, I went and picked up Anna, and we all (including the kids) ran the rice Ranch route.  My knee didn't hurt while I was running, but continued to hurt at home.

At about 3:00, I took an ibuprofen 800.

SUN, 7/5/2015 REST

I did absolutely nothing.

SAT, 7/4/2015 LONG RUN RECAP

I think that all of my preparations paid off.  Overall, I was much stronger.  The end was hard, but my pace was much faster.  I must admit that I need more water than I'm getting.

The energy bar bagel wasn't great tasting, but it was so dense, I imagine that it had great carbohydrates.  I will find a way to add a boiled egg next time, maybe even a piece of banana.

I forgot about the yogurt 15 minutes before the run.  I'll try that next time.

The coconut milk, after part 1, wasn't very tasty, but doable.  I should probably do 8 oz of water (instead of 4) along with the coconut milk.

I need to pack the raisins and pill before I leave, next time.  It took too much time to prepare.  I need to slice the break time between parts 1 & 2 in half.

SAT, 7/4/2015 LONG

I got up at 5:00AM and had a energy bar bagel with cream cheese and drank a 16 oz. glass of water.  The bagel wasn't very good.  I also took an allergy pill and an asthma pill.  I went back to bed, but I couldn't sleep, so I read.

I got back up at 6:30 and had coffee.

My DH and I got out the door about 8:15.  The weather was overcast.  The run starts up hill, so of course, it was hard, but we went a little faster than last week.

DH continued into the neighborhood, but I ran home.  I drank 8oz. of young coconut milk and maybe about 4 oz. of water.  I went to the bathroom and packed a few raisins and a (1) endurolyte pill.  All of this took about 15 minutes, much longer than I anticipated.

I kept a much faster pace on part II than last week.  I felt pretty good.

At the hotel, I took an endurolyte, went to the bathroom, drank some water at the fountain and ate a few raisins before heading home.

I was able to keep a pretty good pace, but the end was very difficult.

FRI, July 3, 2015 REST

I didn't do a thing but put the finishing touches on my plans for my 16 miler, tomorrow.

I had a dinner of spaghetti and meatballs with ice cream for desert.

TH, 7/2/2015 HILL

DH and I were supposed to get up for a morning run, but we didn't get out of bed, so I went for a run a little later in the morning.  With much trepidation, I chose the hill route.   I haven't done it in a awhile, so I was afraid.  I did a mile warm-up on the treadmill, peaking at about an 8:30 pace.  I felt strong, but I did have to stop back home to use the restroom.  At the end of the run, I was able to go amazingly fast.  It didn't feel nearly as difficult as the usual race home.  Stats for the run follow.

I did the normal neighborhood cool-down at the end.

WED, 7/1/2015, TRAIL RUN

I ate an egg and took Isaiah to the YMCA.  I didn't do much.  I did some pushups & squats, but nothing serious.  When we got home, we decided to go for a trail run.  I did a warmup of .5 on the TM.  We did RRWest route, but we drove to the gate to shorten up the run.  I ran slower than yesterday, even though Isaiah was out of sight most of the time.  The weather was perfect--cool and overcast.

TU, 6/30/2015 AFTERNOON RUN EASY

I really wanted to make 140 miles this month, and I knew that I had to run a couple of miles to pick up DH's car from the gas station, so if I could turn that into a longer run, I might be able to do reach my goal.  I did a .5 mile warm-up on the TM, then I did another 1 mile on the TM at an easy pace.  I think I started at 8:50 and ended around 8:30.  I think I it averaged 8:40, but I can't quite remember.

After, I went for a trail loop.  The weather was warm and clear.  I did much better today.  Of course, I did walk some, but I ran enough that could call this one a run.

Compared to yesterday:

I got a glass of water at home and Isaiah and I ran to get the car.  He wanted to go as fast as possible, so I tried to push the pace a little.  I didn't think I was capable of going faster than a 9 minute mile, but after I got going I surprised myself.

Total for the day:  11.3 miles

TU, 6/30/2015 MORNING ROUTE, EASY

DH popped out of bed and got us going for our morning run.  I, initially, set the pace up the big hill, but I couldn't keep up with him on the dip or our street.  I was going to run an extra two, but I didn't have the heart for it.  I know I have to run again to pick up the car.  I don't think that I will get 6 miles on a double, so I will probably be short of 140 this month.  I'm a little sore from squats, but not too much.

MON, 6/29/2015 GYM & TRAIL RUN

I went to the gym for the first time in a long time.  I took the boys.  We were supposed to do legs and lower back.  Right after we used the squat rack, an employee kicked out my younger DS for not having gone through the weight room class.  DS and I sat in the car and waited for my other DS.  Everyone's workout was cut short.  We did dead-lifts at home.

I went for a run at Rice Ranch.  It probably isn't accurate to call it a run.  It was more like a run/walk.  I did a lot more walking than usual. The weather was clear and sunny, but not particularly hot.

DIONYSUS DASH RACE REPORT + PICS SUNDAY, 6/28/2015

I planned to hike or do a P90X3, but it was DH's last day of vacation, so I didn't do anything.  we went out wine tasting.  I'll have to concentrate on hydration tomorrow.

Here is a race report for a race I ran a couple of weeks ago.

I raced the Dionysus Dash on 6/14/2015.  The weather was perfect.  It was a tiny bit cool and overcast.  I won the entry into this race from active.com.  The only parking was paid.  I saw a discount for valet parking for $15, so the race cost me $15.  I got a discount for Tony, too, at some point.  I can’t remember whether it was $35 or $25.  I think it might have been $25. 

The directions said that we needed to get there an hour early for check, so we were there early.  Check in was a breeze.  There was a DJ playing perfect, fun music.  We got our numbers, checked our bag, used the restroom and chatted with some friends for about 20 minutes.  We tried to warm up, but the course was so hilly that I didn’t have it in me to jog around.  Tony was willing, but after the first hill, I called it quits.  We had about 15 minutes and decided to use the bathroom one more time.  There were only 2 restrooms.  We almost missed the start.  When we got to the start there was only a minute or two to spare.

The course was very hilly, but enjoyable.  The hills were just enough to be challenging, but not awful.  I paced myself.  There were many women in front of me, at the beginning, but I picked them off one by one pretty early.  There were no females in my sights after the first mile.  I won first female.  My time was 23:32.  I was 7^th overall out of 224.

The runners were very friendly.  After, we chatted and wine tasted.  I got a bottle of wine a headpiece.  DH won his age group.

There were many wine stations., but the organizers packed up pretty early.  They gave us our keys and bag and shut down the DJ. 

This was a really fun race.  I liked it a lot more than the one we did in Solvang (Wicked Run).  I wouldn't do the Wicked Run again, but I would do this one again.  My only complaint was the bathroom situation.  Two bathrooms for a couple of hundred racers isn’t OK.  They should have brought in two porta potties.  Parking was ridiculous, too.  Full price of $25 to park is exorbitant, and even $15 is crazy.  

SAT, 6/27/2015 TRI-THE-BULL RACE REPORT + PICS

Started with breakfast of a bagel and coffee at 6PM + 16 oz. water

I ran the Tri-the-Bull 5K.  It was measured short (2.82).  My time was 20:09, but extrapolated out to a real 5K, my time would have been 22:09.  I'm running a lot more, but not getting any faster at all.  Clearly, I could use some speedwork.  I really think that I could have run faster.  At no point did I feel like I was desperately, miserable. I placed 2nd female, 1st AG.

When I got home I did the 2.5 neighborhood route, then Tony, and I ran 4.5 near the YMCA.  The last 4.5 was, mentally, tough.