Week 14 Marathon Training

Week 14 went well. I wished it had gone just a little bit better, but it is what it is!!

Monday - Rest day

Tuesday - 1 mile walk warm up 5 miles on the treadmill

Wednesday - 2 miles walking on the treadmill followed by PiYo Core! Note to self: DON'T go two weeks without doing PiYo!!

Thursday - 1 mile walk warm up 6 miles on the treadmill and PiYo Lower Body

Friday - 3 mile walk lifted weights and PiYo Sculpt also I walked around Epcot for several hours

Saturday - Rest Day

Sunday - Well it started out that I was going to run 10 miles on the treadmill. It was really nice out so I wanted to run outside. I wasn't really feeling well but it was so nice out that I just had to run whatever I could. Ended up with 2.35 miles. After running outside I realized that I need to go back outside and run more often. I have a hard time keeping pace. Hopefully starting tomorrow I'll be back outside running one mile. Figured I start slow.

This weeks Sparkle Athletic skirt was white!! I know I've worn it before, but I really like it with this shirt!!

How was your week?

Turtle Krawl 5k Recap

This year I ran the Turtle Krawl 5k for the third year in a row. I am a huge fan of the sea turtles, so this is the perfect race for me, turtles and running!

Every year they have the best bibs. The bibs are artwork by Mike "Nemo" Nemnich. If you were speedy enough to place in your age group you got the most awesome medals, until this year!!! They offered a finishers medal for anyone who paid the extra registration fee. Well this was a no brainer for me, I HAD to have that medal.

Bibs from 2012 and 2013

This year there were over 2400 finishers. 2700 signed up! I'm pretty sure that makes this Brevard County's largest race.

One of the things I really like about this race is how interactive they are with Facebook. They are always having giveaways, keeping everyone updated and if you ask a question, they answer. Wish all races were more like this. If you don't follow them on Facebook you NEED to!

Due to the size of the race and where it is located, parking can be an issue. Because I'm me and have to be early to everything I showed up an hour and half early. When I got there the sponsors were setting up their booths and quite a few runners were already there. Guess I'm not the only one who has to be early.

This year they also had an announcer. It was so nice of them to keep repeating over and over to make sure you line up according to your pace. My first year running this, walkers thought they belonged up front in the 8 minute mile pace and they got mad and started yelling at runners for going around them. This year there were no issues!! THANK YOU!!!

I lined up in the 10 minute mile pace group and started talking with the lady next to me. Turns out she's a runDisney fan too! Next thing I knew they were singing the Nation Anthem. Above us was a camera drone (I think that's what it's called.) Here's the link to the YouTube video. They filmed the start of the race!

I've run this course many many times. The first mile flew by. I felt great and kept pushing myself. I tried to keep an eye on my pace just make sure I hadn't slowed down too much. A few times I had, but I kept speeding back up to my target pace. Even with the narrow path in part of the course and the size of the race, it wasn't congested. I just love seeing the volunteers with signs and cheering us on!

I knew when I made the last turn that I wasn't going to make my sub 30 time. I thought, but don't give up just keep going and get in as quick as you can. My finish time was 30:22. It was faster than last week's 5k!

I had negative splits! Very proud of that.

Check out that medal! That medal was worth it! This is my new favorite!!

After the race was over they had so many booths and so much to do afterward. I stopped by and got OJ from the Natalie's Juice stand and then and checked out my time. I knew I had no hope of placing in my age group, but I wanted to see how I did. I was 26 out of 152 in my age group. Not bad considering this is a Space Coast Runners Series race. All the fast ladies come to run these races!

I stayed at the post race events for awhile. It was great catching up with friends! Sea World released a loggerhead turtle after the race. I didn't stay for it, but I watched the video.

This is one of my favorite local races. If they have it the same weekend next year, I may not be able to do it. I have decided to run the Bird-In-Hand Half Marathon and I think the races will overlap. If it doesn't you can be sure I'll be next year!!

Did you run the Turtle Krawl 5k?

Week 13 Marathon Training

Confession: I forgot to post week 12. Ooops..... I was out of town and didn't do it.

Week 13 is here and it didn't start out well, but ended good.

Monday I traveled, Tuesday I did nothing. After getting back from vacation my allergies decided that they wanted to let me know they missed me. Oh joy...

Wednesday I somehow got 3.1 miles done on the treadmill.

Thursday and Friday again my allergies were so bad I barely got anything done.

Saturday was the Turtle Krawl 5k! I'll post about it later this week! It was a great race. I really wanted to get my time under 30, but that didn't happen. I can do it on the treadmill, but not outside.

Sunday was long run day. I was scheduled to run 12 miles. I started with a 1.1 mile walk warmup. I figured I would go a total of 13.1. Started running my 6.3/4.0 3:06 run/1:10 walk. One mile in I thought, wonder if I can do 13.1 miles. So I thought, why not try. It was going very well, until the last two miles. They were the toughest and longest miles ever. I ended up extending one of my walk breaks by one min. Then at one point I just started walking for 30 seconds.

This week I learned that yes I can run 13.1 miles. AND I can do it close to my PR from Space Coast in 2012!!

I didn't wear a Sparkle Athletic skirt this week on the treadmill. My favorite shorts that I wear under the skirts were dirty. Don't worry I'll wear one next week!!

How was your week?

Running Hills

I knew while I was on my trip to PA that I would need to get a long run in. Luckily it just happened to work out that all I needed was to run 5 miles. Easy right? Except for those hills it would have been. I woke up early Sunday morning had my breakfast, got ready and walked out the door. OH WHO TURNED THE HEAT OFF? REALLY? Yea it was 64 and I was cold. Total Floridian here. I stayed at my Aunt and Uncles house, they have two houses that are .2 miles from each other. I walked from "my house" to their house. I walked really fast just trying to warm up, because not only do they have hills they have trees that shade the roads. Yes I know I'm a total wimp if it's below 70 I bitch.

My Uncle had agreed to go with me during my run. He drove his golf cart. Which I was really glad he did, cause if he wasn't there I may not have gone as far. Those hills were killing me.

I knew the route we were going to take, cause I had just driven it they day before. They live on the Susquehanna River. The first 1/2 mile is a beautiful view.

Once I got moving it wasn't cold anymore. The first mile didn't have any hills! My time was 10:06, which is exactly on pace for my goal of 2:12:30 for Space Coast.

The photo above was just over a mile in and where I went from pavement to gravel roads. It's hard to see, but in the background is a creek. Also you can see my "pace golf cart!" 

Just starting out on the gravel road!

Goofing off

Running by an Amish house.

I survived mile 2. It had the most elevation increase, AND as it turned out 2.42 miles, just about half way just happened to be Christopher McDougalls house. He was up and sitting on his front porch. I stopped my Garmin and got a ride on the golf cart up his driveway. We stopped by and said hi. He was very nice and came down and took a photo with me. 

After about 5 min break we were on our way again! The best part is that it was all down hill from there right? Wrong... We were heading back home and then I'm not sure who's idea it was, I'll totally blame my Uncle for this since he's not here, sorry Michael, we went up this hill. HOLY HILLS BATMAN. About half way up I hit my puke point. 

This wasn't the top of the hill it keeps going. It hurt. Oh and coming down hills, is a lot harder than I remember. Once I got moving I couldn't stop. Ran some of my fastest times coming down those hills.

After that little detour, I was going to finish my 5 miles well before we got back to the house. So me being me said let's try another hill. I ran to the Peach Bottom Marina and ran up the parking lot. The parking lot is easier than the road. It hurt, it hurt bad.....

I was so afraid of just running down this hill that I zig zagged all the way down. After this monster I was almost done my 5 miles and part of me thought hmmmmmmm wonder if I can go one more mile. Just as fast as I thought that, the answer was NO! My Garmin buzzed to let me know that my 5 miles was done and I jumped in the golf cart and got a ride home!

I was kinda proud of my time. My normal elevation is FLAT and I thought I did pretty good!

This was from my 5 mile run

After we got back I changed into my Sparkle Athletic skirt and we went back and took more photos. My Aunt joined us, so now I had two photographers!! Not sure which was more fun, the run or the ride.

Of course the golf cart ride took us by Christopher McDougells house again and he was out on his porch enjoying his coffee that he was trying to brew the first time I interrupted. He has goats and a donkey. I wanted to get my photo with one of the goats. He again was very nice and came down and visited with us.

He's so cute!

Of course I took a shoefie with Christopher McDougall. He probably thinks I'm crazy, well I am and can admit it:)

More photos from the run.

This has to of been one of my favorite training runs. We had so much fun! Kinda wished I could fly up this weekend and run my 12 miles there. The treadmill is going to be so boring in comparison.

Weekly Fruit and Veggies Delivery

I know it's been awhile since I have posted my weekly delivery. Here's this weeks delivery.

Carrots, Baby Broccoli, Bananas, Sweet Peppers, Onions, Zucchini, Plums, Nectarine, Green Beans, Grapes and Potatoes.

I get my deliveries from Space Girl Organics!

Bird-In-Hand 5k Recap

Last week I flew to Pennsylvania. I am originally from the area and still have family there. The reason I went is because my grandfather is 91 years old and isn't doing well. I hadn't see him in four years and I needed to see him at least one more time. And of course me being me, if I know theres a race I just have to sign up. The Bird-In-Hand Half Marathon was sold out, but the 5k still had open spots.

The 5k was on Friday night. I arrived Thursday and convinced my Aunt and Uncle, who I was staying with, to walk the 5k. My Uncle ran in high school, but his knee is bad and he doesn't like to run on it. We arrived to the race area early since the online registration was closed when they decided to do it, and we wanted to make sure we got them into the 5k. Even with us getting there an hour and half early, there were a lot of people there. The "expo" was a tent in the middle of a field. I picked my packet up and they had no problems registering.

At the race they had Christopher McDougall, the author of Born To Run, signing books and talking after the race. He is my Aunt and Uncle neighbor. We stopped by the booth and I met him. I wasn't thinking and should of had him sign my bib. But I did get him to sign it a couple days later when my run took me right by his house. I post about that later.

As you can see the tent behind me was the expo.

In the back ground is the finish line.

They launched hot air balloons before the start of the 5k.

I just had to wear my Sparkle Athletic Shwings. I needed to be able to fly up those hills. I am not use to hilly courses.

My Uncle decided to run with me and keep up as long as he could.

More hot air balloons before the start of the race.

The race had a pace buggy at the beginning of the race. The race started and we were off. I was very proud of my Uncle, he stayed with my for the first mile. My first mile was 9:23! The course starts out on the road up and down the hills, then you run on gravel and grass. I'll admit I wasn't expecting that. When it says you run through Amish country I wasn't expecting to run through the fields. It was great course and the locals were out cheering us on. 

I thought I did well on my time considering I don't run hills. The last mile was my slowest and most difficult. My finish time was 30:49. 

I will be back next year to run the half marathon. This races medal is one of Runner's World top medals. Now I'm just trying to decide whether I also run the Garden Spot Village Half. If you do both you get an extra award of horse poop. Yup that's what you really get. 

This race was very well put on and very organized. When I travel to new races I always get nervous since I'm so spoiled with The Running Zone. They are they best. But the organizers of this race were awesome! I can't wait until next year. I'm still trying to talk my Uncle into running the 1/2 with me. He did very well considering he hadn't run in 20 years.

 Did you run the Bird-In-Hand Half?

Week 11 Marathon Training

Photo Source: runDisney

Monday - PiYo Core! Then we went to Disney's Magic Kingdom for a few hours.

Tuesday - I had planned on running 5 miles. While I was on the treadmill I realized that wasn't going to happen. I ran 3.1 miles. Then later that day I got back on the treadmill and tried again. Ran one mile and was very winded so I tried one more time. I ended up getting my five miles in just not in a row. I also walked 2 miles. I didn't have time to do PiYo:(

Wednesday - I walked two miles on the treadmill, lifted weights and did Upper Body PiYo! And totally unrelated to working out, I found a doggie daycare for my Mousse! One less thing to stress about!!

Thursday - I walked 1 mile for a warm-up then ran 6 miles. 

Friday -  REST DAY!!!

Saturday - Long run day!! I ran 11 miles. The longest run I've done since March.

Sunday - REST DAY!! I took two this week cause I needed it :)

This weeks Sparkle Athletic skirt was the Pink Minnie skirt! I know it has nothing to do with my marathon outfit, but since it was Disneyland Half Marathon weekend I just had to wear this outfit :)