Week 8

Monday, Wednesday and Friday were typical TM runs.
Friday night it snow, A LOT. I woke up Saturday morning and was really surprised how much snow we got. I got ready to run home from Jeremy's gyms. But as we were driving there I was looking at the sidewalk and thinking that it was not real safe to run in 5 inches of slush. There is a road right out of the gym that is about a mile and half and that road was not bad. Most parts were shoveled or melting. The sun was out and I said I would just run up and down that road 4 times to get my 11 miles in.
When I started out it was colder than I thought. The sun was out but it would go behind clouds and the wind would blow. I got to the end of the road and instead of turning around I kept running. Not the way home but straight. I ran till the end of the road which was 3 miles. Than turned around ran back to where i started and than turned around again. Ran to the end of the road turned around again and ran back. On the way back I back tracked a little bit to get 11 miles in. Than I walked 3/4 of a mile. Once I got warmed up I felt great. I was not cold and fell into a great pace. The sidewalk was slush in some spots and I stepped in a few big puddles by accident and made my feet wet and heavy. But I finished the 11 miles with about an11 min/mile pace and I was on top of the world.
Only one more long a run before I start tapering.

Week 7 St. Pattys Day 5k

This week was up and down.
Monday I did 4 miles on the TM and pushed it crazy fast
Wednesday I did 5 miles on the TM and pushed it the last two miles. I have really gotten into the habit of doing speed work when I am on the TM.
Friday I did my long run. At about mile two a lady turning right on red did not see me in the cross walk and I had to jump out of the way and cetch my balance on her hood. I was not hurt in any way but it scared me and got my heart rate up. I just kept running and finished my 10 miles in 2 hours. The last 3 miles were really really mentally hard for me. I felt tired and kept asking myself why in the world I decided to train for a half Mary. I kept questioning my ability and wondering how in the hell I am going to run 11 miles straight next week. But I did it and I guess I will worry about 11 miles next week. I officially signed up for the half marathon and so there is no turning back now. Because I waited so long to sign up for it it was $100 to register. So I better keep training and be ready to run it. I think after officially registering I have got myself all psyched out. I can do this (I hope).
Saturday I ran a st. Pattys day 5k with my friends. The first mile was down hill and the last 2 miles were all up hill. I did the first mile in 8 min and than mile 2 in 10 min and than I took a two min walking break and ran the third mile. I was really mad at myself for walking but I did not pace myself at all the first mile and burnt out. I was also tired from my 10 miles the day before. I fished in 29:07 and got 8th in my age group. I could have done a lot better but I did it and I had fun.

Week 6

Half way there. I have exactly 6 weeks to the half marathon race.
This week my hamstrings were super tight but as the week progressed they felt better.
My new shoes are working great. My feet are still recovering but the new shoes are helping.

Monday I did a 5k on the TM and really pushed the speed. I ran the second mile in 7:30 min. I was super pleased with my time on Monday.

Wednesday I ran outside pushing the jogging stroller and it was cold and Kyle did not like being in the stroller for that long so the run felt super long.

Friday I did a very slow and steady 4 miles on the TM

Today (Saturday) I did 9.5 miles home from Jeremy's gym and than walked the last mile for 10.5 miles total!! It was sunny and windy and I had a head wind the whole time. But I got it done and my time was ok for 9.5 miles. My earphone battery died at about 7 miles so I had to run the last little bit with no music.
The first 3 miles of a long run are always the hardest for me. Than miles 3 thru 6 are great. I get in the groove and just run. Than the last few miles are mentally hard.
Its hard for me to believe that 8 months ago I could not even run a mile with out taking walking breaks and today I ran 9.5 miles without stopping. It feels great to be slowly progressing my fitness level.

Week 5

I got to run outside yesterday. Ran 8 miles!!! Felt like I was on top of the world for running the whole thing. There was a BIG hill at about 2.5 miles and I made it up the whole thing. I had to stop at some stop lights but I kept moving whine waiting. It felt amazing to run outside. The weather was perfect. I did end up with a huge blister on my foot. I have about 7 blister right now but the one on the bottom of my foot is huge and goes between my toes. So yesterday I got some new shoes. I hope they help.
Here's the pictures from this past week