7 days...

...and only two more measly three milers 'till the big day. I am so stoked.

winding down, down, down..

And I am officially in taper mode. I successfully completed all of my runs last week, which was a nice change from that previous week where I was just feeling off. Thursday I did a nice four miles in the neighborhood. I took a half day to keep an eye on my little Dottie (who just got spayed Wednesday) so I was able to get my run done earlier than anticipated. I was sitting around the 43 minute mark. Also, I don't think I've mentioned Dottie at all, but she's my new dog! I love her little muppet face.

Anyways, Saturday was the big one. The final long run. The first time hitting double digits. I was hesitant (and when Saturday morning rolled around jeez was I lazy!) but I forced myself out by telling myself that this was the last time I had to do this. Out the door I went! Around mile one I found a soggy ten dollar bill that had been lost on the bridge to campus. I picked it up, lucky me, and told myself that I had to earn each one of those dollars with each mile I ran. Ten miles, ten dollars. Thank you to whoever lost that bill, it helped me get through the run.

I cruised all along my route, waving hello at the triatheletes that were in the biking portion of their race as they zoomed by me. Before I knew it, I was in the home stretch so I kept my head in the game aaaaand... Ten miles. I did it. 1:54 and some change. Only three minutes longer than my 9.5 miles two weeks ago. I'd say that's a win and I am really, really proud of myself.

I celebrated the winding down of training and the badassness of the fact that I ran ten miles by having one of the best days off I've had in a while. Mexican food lunch, beach, moscato, beautiful weather, sunset, friends, fire, music, and boy.

Life is sa-weeeet. T minus fourteen days 'till NOLA.

building momentum again.

I finally got off my ass and ran yesterday. Instead of doing my planned 4 miles, I swapped for my Thursday 3 miles for time. I had some friends in town so the shorter run was better. I did this run on the treadmill - three miles in 29 minutes. Not too shabby. No knee pain, no soreness today.

That's all I've really got for today.

an off week, trying to adapt.

Want to know how many runs I did last week? ZERO. NONE. Ugh. I know I needed to cut back a bit because of the knee issues that I had after last week's 9.5 miles, but seriously, Nina? No runs at all? I could have at least done one three or four miler. Buuuuut I didn't, and while I don't think it was totally necessary to have taken the whole week off, I feel that I kind of needed it mentally. I'm on the verge of getting burnt out and I am so looking forward to this half marathon being over so that running becomes something enjoyable again, and not something that I have to do, with all my runs planned out months in advance. I want to be able to lace up and just go, without any set distance, route, or time in mind.

But I will not let my lazy week get me down, I've come too far to give up now. I'm going to pick myself back up and move on. Only three more weeks 'till NOLA and this is what it's going to look like in running:

This week: Mon - 4 miles, Thurs - 3 miles, Saturday - 10 miles (last long run of training)

Next week: Tues - 3 miles, Thurs - 3.5 miles, Saturday - 4 miles

Last week of training (!!): Tues - eeeeaaaassy 3 miles, Fri - travel to NOLA, Sun - 13.1 miles, baby.

And then I will sleep for a week straight.

change of plans.

There are going to be some slight adjustments to the remainder of my training schedule. Right now I've got two more long runs, planned to be an 11 miler and a 12 miler. Not. Going. To. Happen.

After the way my knees were feeling after last week's 9.5 miles, I don't think it's wise. My right knee was pain free after a day, but today my left knee has started to twinge. SO... the plan is to do ten miles this weekend and be done with it - on to tapering. Even if I just do the 9.5 again I think I'd be okay. I don't want to push too much.

Following the last long run, I'll have two weeks to keep up my shorter runs, varying from 3-5 miles, and then the last few days before the race I'll totally ease up.

I'm not sure if I will do my planned run tonight if my knee keeps tweaking today. Only three miles on the schedule but I'd rather miss it and take a needed rest than do it and have my knee explode.

ouch.

Another week down in training. Thursday I came very close to skipping my run in lieu of cleaning the house, but I decided to man up and just DO IT. I did this run on the treadmill. I really kind of appreciate my treadmill runs, they aren't so bad. I like that I can keep track of my speed easily. My 3.5 miles went like this:

warm up walk
1st mile - 6mph
2nd mile - 6.5mph
3rd mile - 7mph (!! one of my fastest miles yet)
last .5 mile - 6.5mph, then 6mph
cool down

It was a good run, I felt strong. Not so much can be said for my long run this week. Well, I guess that's a lie, I felt pretty good during the run. It's the aftermath that is unpleasant. I had 9.5 miles on my plate yesterday and I conquered them. Totally annihilated. When I hit the seven mile marker I couldn't believe how good I still felt. Same with mile eight. I definitely had to dig deep for the last half mile, but I think that was more mental than physical. I knew I was almost done and that made my mind turn itself off.

After the run, I was obviously tired, especially my legs. But I noticed a clicking in my knee, accompanied by slight pain. I'm hesitant to even call it pain, maybe just discomfort. I iced and stretch but it lingered throughout most of the day. I can feel it today, the following day, but mostly only when I go down or up stairs. My legs are just sore, overall. This is the first time I've been sore from a run in a while! I'm hoping a few days of rest will clear the whole thing up. It makes me nervous, though.

After all of this training, I'm really not sure how I feel about distance running. I feel like it gets to a point where it's not even that enjoyable anymore (I usually hit this around mile 7). It hurts. It's hard. The main redeeming value of these long runs is the satisfacting and feeling of accomplishment when I successfully complete the miles. After New Orleans, I might stick to 10ks. That is, if my knee doesn't go out on me.

February goals

My goals for February are:

• complete all of my training runs
• stretch more after runs, long runs especially
• do more things for myself and stop focusing on what other people want from me
• do zumba at least twice (I miss shaking my ass)
• less TV, more reading
  
• cook and bake more and experiment with new recipes