Successful Tempo Run

I had to get my tempo run in on my lunch. My training plan called for 8 miles total and I knew I didn't have time for that. I have a very late lunch this year so I was able to get in 5 at tempo pace on my lunch and then 2 more at practice with my cross-country kids... Yes, I know that is only 7. But I
was pleased as I was hoping to be able to hit 8 min pace for my run


Summary 37:51.0 5.00 7:34.2
1 7:46.4 1.00 7:46.4
2 7:37.7 1.00 7:37.7
3 7:26.8 1.00 7:26.8
4 7:34.5 1.00 7:34.5
5 7:25.5 1.00 7:25.

This gives me a little confidence that I won't totally bomb some upcoming 5k's!

Now it is off to the New York State Meet with 4 of our cross-country athletes!

Red Baron 1/2 Marathon

Sunday was suppose to be the day that I was in NYC to run the greatest marathon in the world....well, the training wasn't there because of a goofed surgery in August and calf pain from the Wineglass half marathon and I made the decision to defer to 2012. Instead I am focusing my training on the 2012 Rock n Roll marathon in Arizona. Jan. 15, I will be going for the elusive (to me) BQ.

This weekend 14 miles was on the training schedule and locally the Red Baron 1/2 Marathon was taking place. I ran this race 2 years ago and vowed never to do it again ( I wasn't prepared and hurt for days after). Well, this year if you ran the Wineglass Marathon and the Red Baron you would be in the Wine Baron club..... so I decided that this would be an opportunity to get my long run in with water stations and have people around me.... I went into this knowing and planning on it me just a training run. My goal is Jan. 15!

The first 5 miles are HILLY! I kept telling my self don't race it...Arizona...this probably helped me! the next 4 miles are down hill...ouch on the quads and shins...ran it controlled ...Last 4 was flat...my legs felt all weird and they were tough. I took a Carb Boomgel at mile 9. I ended up finishing in 1:50:06 (garmin). It was not chip timed though. It was a great long run! Still waiting to see the final results!

Tom's 10k Trek

My step-son had a hockey tournament in Lake George, NY this weekend. There was a local 10k/5k this weekend there so we (my mom and father in-law) registered. I registered for the 10k and my mom registered for the 10k. The race was a first year race and it was SMALL. It was a great race and a beautiful course. The 5k was a loop that was uphill for 1.7 miles and flat/downhill the rest. The 10k was 2 loops.....it was a hard course. I was pleased. I finished in 49:34 (8:00/mile pace) I was 1st in my age group, 5th women and 11th person overall. My kids came to watch...... this is Ally rooting me on!

Waiting at the starting line for the race to start

the finish

Splits

mile 1 7:57

mile 2 8:26

mile 3 7:21

mile 4 8:53

mile 5 8:52

mile 6 7:18

finish 49:34

I won a nice bag as an age group prize. I would definitely do this one again if I was in Lake George at the time they held it!

I am back..

After having to defer the Marine Corps Marathon and the ING NYC Marathon because of lack of training. The surgery that ruined my VIA Lehigh Valley Marathon as seemed to haunt me in other ways......recently went to the chirpractor after my horrendous and painful Wineglass 1/2 marathon

.

Wineglass Marathon.....1:53:59. If I could of stopped at mile 2 I would of! It was terrible...calf and knee pain! Went to the Chiro, scar tissue off set my stride and was causing the pain. Now that I am back to training normally and have minimal pain....we'll see!

Rochester 1/2 marathon was a blast! This is where the calf pain started but I had fun! I guess running in a tutu makes me mile and lots of people cheer!

I had to miss the Chris Bond Run this past weekend and I was so sad! I LOVE that race and it was my first time missing it since it started! This weekend we are off to a hockey tournament for my step-son in Lake George. The fun thing is that there is a 10k there this weekend also. Also, I have begun training for the Rock-n- Roll Arizona Race. My goal is 3:35.

I'mmmmmm BACKKKKK!

So, it has been awhile..... Sorry no pics with this post but it is late and I am tired! But today I was able to run after three weeks off! I ran 2.1 miles. It was slow but it was running! How I have missed running! I know it was only three weeks but it felt like an eternity! I will post more tomorrow about surgery and recovery. I also need to post a re cap of the Boilermaker and Character Chase 5k. But for now I am off to bed and will be getting up early to run again and then will add some post updates!

My Favorite Fans and Brad Sanford 5k RR

This weekend was the In the Spirit of Brad 5k. Being in the middle of marathon training and knowing that a long run is on the schedule I would not normally do a 5k. This course goes by my house twice so I have to do it. I can't justify going to Florida, D.C., Virginia Beach, Philadelphia or Arizona and not run a race that starts less than a 1/2 mile from my house. There is something to be said for the small hometown races. I love this race but hate the course. There is a ginormous hill at about 1.4 miles. This is hill is long and steep. Knowing that my kids will be sitting outside my house cheering me on both times I run by and that they will be at the finishing line is AWESOME!
The Race started at 10 am. I left my house about 9:30 and did a 1.3 mile warm-up and did some drills.

The race started and we were off. I finished Mile 1 in 6:52. This was a good first mile for me.

The second mile I ran in 8:3?- I thought my legs were going to explode. The hill hurt so bad!It took a few minutes to get my legs back once I got to the top. The final mile was 7:33 with the .1 at 6:40 pace.

I finished in 23:35. This was slower than last year....but this year I am marathon training and have not raced myself in to shape like last year. It was good enough for 4th overall women and first in my age group.

My mother and father in-law also ran. My mom place first in her age group also.

Week 3 Lehigh Valley Marathon Training

Sunday, May 22
I was suppose to run 13 miles....I felt horrible and stopped at 10.17
Long 10.17 Mi -1:28:57 (8:45/mile)
Monday, May 23- Rest started 7 weeks to 100 push- ups I did 6-8-6-6-9=35

Tuesday, May 24
Easy 3.39 Mi 29:50 8:49/mile. Ran with the girls on the track team. Should of run more but still fighting illness and some right achilles pain


Wednesday, May 25
Easy 2 Mi 19:07 9:34/mile Started out on an 8 mile run but my right achilles and the top right of my right foot hurt so bad so I turned around at 1mile and went home to ice.
push-ups 8-10-8-8-9=43

Thursday, May 26
- resting the foot one more day---

Friday, May 27
Easy 5.36 Mi 47:17 8:50/mile
push-ups 9-12-9-9-11=50

Saturday, May 28
Will do RR soon but I felt HORRIBLE!
Easy 1.73 Mi Warmup and Cool down
Race 8 km 37:17 7:31/mile

Total: 27.6 miles

Back on track so far this week.....

Marathon Training Week #2

Sunday- Race for the Cure 5k. I ran with hubby for this one...it wasn't near my normal 5k race pace but I had so much fun!!!

Monday- 12 miles 1:43:47 (8:39/mile) Had to get this run in beofre work because of yesterdays 5k


Tuesday- Rest


Wednesday- 5 Easy 47:33 (9:31/mile)


Thursday- Rest (suppose to run 10 miles) felt run down and could not get out of bed on time in the morning so it was a missed run

I was so jealous of these three......

Friday- 5.5 Hill run 50:58 (9:16/mile) now I know why I felt run down...sick.... but got run in anyway

Saturday- 5miles easy 44:58 (9:00/mile) Had to get a run a in early because had track practice with my distance kids and t-ball game with my own kids....

our new mascot

Race for the Cure RR

I am in pink with the hubby next to me....I am having a blast! :)

On Sunday, the hubby and I ran the Race for the Cure. His mother is a survivor so he runs this race every year in her honor. It is one of two races that he will run in a year. Last year he ran a 25:59. His goal this year was to beat that. I decided that it would be fun to run with him since I do not have the opportunity to do so very often. My goal was to pace him to a new PR. We started off quickly finishing the first mile 7:43....this is going out quite fast for him.....mile 2 around 8:10 and the third mile was 8:38. We finished together in 25:31. A new PR for him. I now will have to wait until February to run the Sweetheart race with him...... So proud of him!I

had a little trouble running side by side....you can see my hubby's foot

Week 1 Lehigh Valley Marathon Training Complete

The first week of Marathon training is completed!

Sunday- 10.7 miles @ 8:53 pace. This was a horrible run for me....not sure if I started of too quickly and or what but I was sore and my legs were sooooo tired. A very disappointing start to the 18 week plan!

Monday- Rest

Tuesday- 4.7 miles @ 8:08 pace. Felt great. Met some ladies at 5:45am and ran with them. It felt good to run that pace!!!

Wednesday- 9 miles @ 8:54 pace. This was a nice recovery run!

Thursday- 6.7 miles @ 8:11- again some ladies at 5:45am. This run felt awesome! Really enjoyed it!

Friday- 5 miles @ 8:57 pace with the girls on the track team

Saturday- 7.56 @ 9:00 pace

Overall it was a great training week!!! Sunday I am running a 5k with the hubby! I am not racing it but hoping to pace him to a PR. This one of the only two races he will run a year so I have to do it with him!

Here are some pics that make me smile of my youngest......

Mother's Day started off with a long run. It was supposed to be 12 miles but it was a huge fail! I felt okay at the beginning ....Okay being tired legs.....after about 6 miles the legs decided it wasn't going to happen....my pace slowed and my legs started cramping, especially my calves. I ended up running 10.8 miles in 1:35:21 (8:53 pace). I was very discouraged after this run. It was the first day of training for Lehigh Valley Marathon.....hope it's not an indicator of the rest of the training plan!

The day did get better even though I had calf cramps throughout the day........... We went to my step-son's soccer game and came home with a new dog. The dog was his Christmas gift a year and half ago and stayed at his mom's house. The puppy has now joined our household. The kids love her already!!!

Afterwards we went Tag's for Mother's Day dinner with my mom and my in-laws and my brother. I started off with Red Cat and Mexican Spinach Artichoke Dip and then had an Awesome Chicken Salad. I had such a great Mother's day. I loved the home made gifts from Ally and Garrison and the hubby had the kids record their voices in a book and asked them questions. I LOVED it!!!!!

May Day 5k and Kids Fun Run

This weekend was the May Day 5k. I have not really been doing a lot of speed training and thought the 5k would be a good speed day! It was a Sunday race at 1:oopm. I have run the course before.....I ran it in October for the Chris Bond Run. In October I completed the course in 22:00. Sunday was over a minute slowe 23:08. I was disappointed with the time but happy because I was the overall female. I guess running 9 miles on Saturday was not the ideal way to improve a 5k time on Sunday. But oh well! It was fun! My mom ran also and won her age group!!! GO MOM!!!! They had the results all mixed up with me....They had me listed as a male and in the 15-19 year old age group. Not sure how that happened since I registered through Active. I was 12th over all out of 168 runners. They quickly "changed" me back to female. But I did have to forfeit my 15-19 age group award because of the over all win (nice thing for a 33 year old to have to do:) ).

My favorite part of the day was the 1/2 mile kids run!!! My 4 year old really wanted to run it. So I ran it with her and she was so cute running!!! When she crossed the finish line she looked up at me and said, " boy mom, that is hard work!" I love her!

Here are some pics of Ally's race........

At the start with mommy!

Checking out the crowd!

Finished!

Like any runner she hit up the post race food!

The awards

I'M IN!!!!

Well, Wednesday was the big lottery for the NYC Marathon. It was my second year in the lottery. Last year, my friend, MC and I wanted to run the marathon together...She got in and I didn't.....Well this year I entered and I totally thought there was no way I would get in!!! I thought it so much that I registered for the Marine Corps Marathon the week before. Well, I guess I should of known that it would of been the guarentee of me getting in :) So my fall racing schedule just got 26.2 miles longer....

9/11/11- Lehigh Valley Marathon

10/2/11- Wineglass 1/2 Marathon

10/30/11- Marine Corps Marathon

11/6/11- New York City Marathon

1/15/12- P.F. Chang's Rock-n-Roll Marathon Arizona

Last night I did a track work out...It was about 8:15pm once I got out the door (had to put the kiddos to bed!) I did 15 minute warm-up 6x400 and a 15 min. cool down. Goal time for the 400's was 1:35 (1:30 rest after each)

400- 1:34

400- 1:34

400- 1:32

400- 1:33

400- 1:36

400- 1:30

Overall it was a great work-out.....One week and Marathon training begins :)

Easter

The best chocolate Easter bunny ever!

I gave up diet Pepsi for Lent. For those who know me this was quite difficult. It needed to be done though!!! I was drinking way too much diet soda!! I have discovered a new love for ice tea and water! Hopefully, I can be good and keep my inhalation of Diet Pepsi to one a day :)

Oh, how I have missed thee!!!

I had 10 miles scheduled for Sunday morning......I figured it wouldn't get done with it being Easter and all....I mean I really couldn't expect my 5, 4 and 2 year old to sleep in when the Easter bunny had left lots of candy filled eggs and baskets for the kids. I was woken up rather early by the littlest man, not for Easter but because he was running a fever (still)!!! Next up was big brother....now his excitement was quite contagious....and he woke up the Princess. They were so excited to see all the eggs hidden throughout the downstairs. It was great to watch them search high and low for the eggs and their baskets! So, the 10 miles will have to wait until Monday ( now that's Tuesday and I am actually posting this- I got them done and will blog about it soon!)

loving his new hat that the Easter Bunny brought

still feeling sick and not so interested in what the Easter Bunny brought


loves candy and toys so she was very happy!

.

The Race that Didn't Happen for me.....

Saturday, I was going to run a 10k. The Fly With Eagles 10k. It is a tough course! Last year I was the overall female. I wanted to see what kind of shape I am in compared to last year. I wanted to see if I could run faster on this course. I did everything that I normally do on Friday even laid out my new outfit to run in. New outfit from 26.2 apparel

modeling the new outfit

When I woke up Saturday morning my youngest was doing so hot. He was running a fever for the 3rd day in a row. Being a good mother I called his doctor and they wanted to see him. They set an appointment up for him at 9am. There was no way I was going to make it to the race. I was very bummed but I wanted my little guy to feel better!!! When I changed his diaper he was covered in a rash from the fever. Poor little man was a mess!

my baby napping

I took the opportunity of a rare nap for Carson to get an afternoon run in. Since I missed the race in the morning I decided to head out for a hilly run. I was able to 5.5 in 49:30 (9:00/mile pace) This is the second fastest I have run this loop. I will add the Garmin details later. I was even able to test out the new running outfit! It was one of the most comfortable running outfits I have ever worn! I will definitely buying more clothes from them! the best thing about sick children is how cuddly they are! Love my little man!!

Skunk Cabbage Classic 10k

On Sunday, I ran the Skunk Cabbage Classic. It takes place on the hills of Ithaca, NY. There is a 1/2 marathon and a 10k. I orginally registered for the 1/2 marathon but since the hubby and my 3 monsters came to root on mommy I dropped down to the 10k! This ended up being a very good thing as I felt really crappy throughout the whole race!
The 10k started at 10am. I had pre-registered so we got there at 9:15. I got my number and headed to the bathroom....there was quite a line. I did a mile warm-up at 9:40. I missed the drills that I normally do before a race. I lined up, without headphones, as this race did not allow them. The gun went off and we took off.....

here is how it went......
Mile 1 7:23- I knew within the first quater of mile that it was going to be a tough run. My legs were so tight. Especially my quads!
Mile 2 7:48
Mile 3 8:06
Mile 4 8:16
Mile 5 8:17
Mile 6 7:55 .24 1:44 (7:24 pace)
Total 6.24 49:31 (7:59 pace)

This was my 4th time running this race 2001 (45:24), 2003 (51:44), 2009 (57:07). I was very disappointed in my time as my mommy pr is 45:20. But when I saw that it was the second fastest I have run this course and I actually beat a time from before having my 3 monsters I felt a little better about it.
Stats
94/409 total runners
22/245 women
3/40 age group

Prize for my age group..

An Afternoon Home........

This post comes 5 days later...... On Friday, the last day of our "Spring Break" we were back to work to make up for snow days. The only problem I had was no baby sitter. My in-laws were out of town and my normal baby sitter was still on her vacation. What to do??? Well, my dad was able to watch the kids in the morning and I toook my last 1/2 personal day to stay home with the kids......We had so much fun!

We made silly faces!

and mad faces!

little man was happy to have mommy home!

We cuddled

and watched the Dukes of Hazzard

Little Miss Posed

and played airplane

If I could only stay home with these smiling faces everday!!!