Workouts this week:

Tuesday: 6 x 800 (90 sec RI) @ 8:45
I only did 3 x 800 because I had a 5K that evening.  I should have just skipped them all because it was so hot that evening and struggled to run the 3.1 miles.

Thursday: 1 mile easy, 5 miles @ 9:52, 1 mile easy
Unfortunately I woke up later than I expected and could only stay at the gym till 7:30 am because I had a school meeting at 9:00.  With that time I only ran 3.15.  I was gone all day and had not desire to run after my meeting.

Saturday: 12 miles @ 10:45
I did not run on Saturday but instead ran the RnR Chicago Half Marathon today which makes it my 100th race!!!  Recap coming soon.

Total miles ran this week is 22.15.

Overall it was a good week.  The weather was BRUTAL but I managed to stay cool by staying indoors.

This week I received a pair of new shoes (Brooks PureFlow), three different pairs of Lock Laces, and samples of Huma Chia Energy Gels.  I am in love with the laces and I’ve already put the pink ones in my purple shoes.

I know it is not a good idea to try something new on race day but I took a chance and took 3 packets of the Huma gels.  And guess not?  They are fantastic and yummy!  I took one 15 minutes before the start of the race and then two more throughout.  I did not experience any stomach problems and am happy to say that these are my kind of energy gels.  The only thing is that they are kind of expensive. Each one is about $2.25 but I guess that’s the price to pay for something that is great tasting and natural.

Just Keep Running!

Workouts this week:

Tuesday – 2 x 1200 (2 min RI) and 4 x 800 (2 min RI)

I updated my running plan based on the book “Run Less Run Faster”.  This one ends the week of 9/22 and then I start training for Goofy Challenge.  And I also have a training plan for it.

I know speed workouts are supposed to be hard but how hard?  In the past I was doing them at 8:20 but it was just too difficult that I found myself taking breaks..a lot.  With that many breaks it just defeats the purpose of speed workouts.  So now my speed workouts will be more manageable but yet difficult for me and with time I will get that sub 2 half marathon!

These week’s workouts were the same as last week.  And I felt great (better than last week) when I was done.  I raised the incline to 1% and ran them in 9:01 (1200s) and 8:45 (800s).

Thursday – 1 mile easy, 2 miles @ 9:52, 1 mile easy, 2 miles @ 9:52,  1 mile easy
Done.  I was sweating up a storm when I was done.

Saturday – 10 miles
I met my friend, PA, for another long run along the lakefront.  We decided to meet at 6 am but he overslept and we did not start till close to 7.  I was annoyed but then realized that it happens (it could happen one day to me).  So I used the extra time to stretch and use the bathroom.

I used Aquaphor in the areas that I normally chafe and it worked!  However, because it was a hot day and I was sweating a lot, I also chafed in other areas that I normally do not and that left me very unhappy.

Sunday – Yoga
Another 1.5 hours of hot yoga.  I think I am getting the hang of it.  But my right leg/hamstring/hip is still very, very tight and some poses are just too difficult for me.  I know I need to stretch more so that I can do these.  Pretty cool huh?

Total miles ran this week is 24.5.

Workouts this week:

Tuesday – 2 x 1200 (2 min RI) and 4 x 800 (2 min RI)
Tired. Not feeling it so I only ran 3.65 miles. I am losing my mojo to run intervals. Maybe I’ll take a break from them. Or maybe it was one of those days. But then again I’ve been having too many one of those days.

Thursday – 3 miles easy, 3 miles @ short tempo, 1 mile easy.
I ran 4.06 miles at the Community Bank of Elmhurst 4 on the 4th race.  It was a great race and you can read the recap here.

Saturday – 9 miles at HMP, 10 minutes walking
I met up with PA again at 7am on 31st street. We decided to alternate our meeting location because we live on opposite sides of this world. 🙂 It was already too hot at 7am. He had to run 11 miles and at first I was fine with it but then told him to go ahead without me and that he could meet up with me on the way back. I was no longer planning to run 11 miles. I finished my run and he came along about 15 minutes later. Next week we are meeting at 6am. His plan is 12 miles and mine is 10. We’ll see how it goes.

Sunday
Went back to Bikram Yoga Chicago for 1.5 hours of hot yoga. Today was the first time going on a Sunday. I found parking in front of the studio and there were no more than 20 people in the class. I don’t know if it is like that on Sundays or maybe people were away because of the holiday. The instructor was nice and friendly. He assisted me several times with some of the poses. I really need to go there more often. Some of those people are really flexible and have no trouble with the poses.

Total miles ran this week is 17.21.

Workouts this week:

Monday – Cardio
25 minutes on the elliptical was quite a workout for me.  I did intervals and did not get bored at all.  The time went by fast!

Tuesday – 5 x 1000 (90 sec RI)
Done.  It was tough and I struggled to get them done.

Wednesday– Cardio
25 minutes of intervals on the elliptical.  Loved it!

Thursday – 2 miles easy, 3 miles @ short tempo, 1 mile easy
Did not run.  I was supposed to do yoga but instead took a break since I had a half on Saturday.

Saturday – Half Marathon
I ran the Rock ‘n’ Roll Seattle Half Marathon.  The weather was great at the beginning and there were some parts of the course that I liked.  It was HILLY and HOT towards the end!  My finish time is 2:30:39.  I tried really hard to finish close to 2:22 or 2:23 but had no energy towards the end.  I will have a recap on Tuesday. I will be taking a break from races for a few weeks.  My next one is Rock ‘n’ Roll Chicago Half Marathon, July 21, and I am really excited about that one.