Jul
2018

Goodbye June and Hello July!

categories: Ambassador, Half Marathon Training, Hansons Training, Running, Tuesdays on the Run

How is it that we are halfway through the year?  

Hello July

• June was the end of the school year.  I also started teaching summer school and that ends this Friday.  For the rest of the month, I will be relaxing while also hanging out with family.  I have a cotillion on the 14th and then my sister and her husband will be in town for a week.

• Training went very well this month.  I am currently training for the ZOOMA Half Marathon in September.  There were some decent days but definitely quite a few HOT ones.  I’ve been doing my easy runs (3-4 miles) early in the morning before work.  If I don’t then I have to wait till 6-7 once it cools down a little bit.

• Ran 104.68 miles.  Another month over 100 miles.  I am now 47% done of my yearly goal.  

2018 Goal

• Total time running was 21:15.  Not quite a whole day but pretty close.

• 23 days of running.  I run 5 days a week and have been loving it.  Now I am at the point in my training plan in which I will be running 6 days a week.  Last week would have been my first week but I skipped my run on Sunday.

June 2018 Calendar

• Getting back to weekly speed workouts.  I had some really great ones when I was training during the winter.  Still pleased with how I am doing so far.

• Looking forward to 1 race in July.  I am running the Elmhurst 4 on the 4th on Wednesday.  It is one of my favorite races and I’ve done this race since 2013.

Overall, I am proud of myself with how I did in June.  I missed one run and didn’t finish another one.  Hopefully July is just as great or better!

June 2018 Report Card

Join me on September 15 for an inspiring weekend filled with strong women, yoga sessions, speakers, an exciting expo, and celebrations in an unforgettable resort location.  Click HERE to register.  The code is valid till July 4.

ZOOMA Half Marathon-22

So how did June go for you?  What  is the weather like where you live?

Linking up with Marcia, Patti, and Erika for Tuesdays on the Run.

TuesdaysOnTheRun


Jul
2018

ZOOMA Half Marathon Training Recap, Week 5

categories: Half Marathon Training, Hansons Training, Running, Weekly Recap

ZOOMA Half Marathon-1

I am excited to be training for the ZOOMA Half Marathon on September 15.  I am also excited to share that I will train using the Hansons Half Marathon Method.  In a nutshell, this training is based on the concept of cumulative fatigue.  You train your body to run often so that you are frequently running on tired legs.  The idea is to run this way so that during the last miles of a race you are prepared to push through the final miles. 

Week #5, June 25-July 1

M Ran 4.00 miles
T OFF
W Ran 6.75 miles
TH Ran 4.01 miles
F Ran 4.00 miles
S Ran 4.00 miles
S Did not run

Another HOT and HOT week of running!  Ugh, I need to be out there by 5:30 so that I am not too hot.  It was mostly easy runs of 4 miles on Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.

ZOOMA Half Marathon-20

My speed workout  (1.5 mile warm up and cool down and 8x400s with 400s recovery) was on Wednesday and I almost nailed it.  I have no idea why the first interval was my slowest one.  I didn’t know it was my slowest one till after my run and I saw my paces.

ZOOMA Half Marathon-18.jpg

I ran again in my Brooks Launch 5 and I’d forgotten how much softer these are compared to the Launch 4.

ZOOMA Half Marathon-19

Saturday was the end of the month and I ended it with 104.68 miles.  Total to date is 564.14 miles (per my Garmin; my Google Sheet shows 564.07) and that puts me at 47% done of my yearly goal.

Total July 2018

I woke up late on Sunday and it was already hot.  I was hoping that it would be cooler in the evening so I could still run.  It finally did around 6pm (78 degrees, it was high 90s in the morning) but by then it was supposed to rain and I also got lazy.

ZOOMA Half Marathon-21.jpg

Total mileage for the week: 22.77 miles
Total mileage for this training cycle:  112.69 miles
Total mileage for the year: 564.07 miles <<Per my Google Sheet; Garmin shows 564.14)

Here’s how training has gone so far:
Week 1 and 2
Week 3
Week 4


Jun
2018

Random Thoughts Thursday 26

categories: Random Thoughts Thursday

Random Thoughts Thursday

• I did almost all of my winter running around my house.  I didn’t know the city was working on lanes for bike riders and runners/walkers for the lakefront path.  Last weekend I was running on my regular path and a bike rider coming from the opposite side told me something like that I was in the wrong lane or that my lane was down there (and he pointed to my right).  I stopped.  I got annoyed.  I mean, really?  The Lakefront is FREE for everyone to use.  One of the reasons I avoided that path (before I knew that was the path I am supposed to run in) is because it is much closer to the water and no trees around it.  So during the summer it is always hot and sunny and during the winter it is colder and windier.  

Lakefront Path-1

• The Yellow Pages are still printed?  I haven’t seen one in years.  I thought there were no longer printed.

Yellow Pages-1

• Another reminder thanks to Facebook.  I was supposed to go to Hawaii 9 years ago.  I had my airline and hotel accommodations but had to cancel because of a job commitment.  I had recently been hired as a 1st grade teacher and my orientation dates were during the dates I was supposed to be in Hawaii.  I had no choice but no cancel.  I cannot believe I haven’t been there yet.  So far the plan is to go in 2020 as my last state to run in and complete my goal of running a half marathon in each state. 

Hawaii Reminder.jpg

• I am not having good luck with parking tickets.  I received another one last week.  This one annoys me even more because I know for a fact my car wasn’t where they said it was.  According to the violation notice, I was ticketed because of special events restriction.  No way!  My car was in a parking lot where my friend works (and definitely not in the address listed in the notice).  I left it there because we went to eat and then downtown to watch a show.

• Are you a fan of cold brew coffee?  I received a sample from Dunkin Donuts but haven’t tried it yet.  I do like the one from Starbucks.  I made a pitcher of Starbucks Cold Brew this morning and that will last me about 3-4 days.  Excited to try out DD!

DD Cold Brew Coffee-1

• It amazed me that with all of the technological advances that go on every day, there is still a traffic jam whenever the power goes out after a storm.  I mean, seriously?  This isn’t something that can be fixed remotely?  Isn’t there someone in the city that has access to all of the traffic lights and can check whether or not they’re working?

Stop Light Traffic.jpg


Jun
2018

ZOOMA Half Marathon Training Recap, Week 4

categories: Half Marathon Training, Hansons Training, Running, Weekly Recap

ZOOMA Half Marathon-1

I am excited to be training for the ZOOMA Half Marathon on September 15.  I am also excited to share that I will train using the Hansons Half Marathon Method.  In a nutshell, this training is based on the concept of cumulative fatigue.  You train your body to run often so that you are frequently running on tired legs.  The idea is to run this way so that during the last miles of a race you are prepared to push through the final miles. 

Week #4, June 18-24

M Ran 4.00 miles
T OFF
W OFF
TH Ran 7.10 miles
F Ran 4.00 miles
S Ran 4.00 miles
S Ran 3.50 miles

Monday was hot and icky!  4 miles to start off the week.  There is a new restaurant that opened up by the house that serves tamales.  I am a big fan of them and am excited to check it out.

ZOOMA Half Marathon-15

I did Wednesday’s run (5×1000 with 400m recovery and 1.5 miles warmup and cooldown) on Thursday (again).  And I almost skipped it on Thursday too.  Luckily it was nice and cool but still humid.  Each interval was supposed to be done between 9:27 and 9:51.  I do need to do a better job of pacing myself. 

ZOOMA Half Marathon-16

Friday and Saturday were also easy runs, 4 miles each day.  Saturday was 10 miles and I woke up at 4:30 to get an early start.  I made it to the lakefront and around mile 2 was very tired. I stopped a few times but knew it wasn’t my day.  I managed to run 3.5 miles and then walked to my car.  I was a bit disappointed because I was running the pace I was supposed to (11:14-12:44) but just felt very tired.  Oh well.  Not every run will be a great run.

ZOOMA Half Marathon-17.jpg

Total mileage for the week: 22.61 miles
Total mileage for this training cycle:  89.92 miles
Total mileage for the year: 541.31 miles

Here’s how training has gone so far:
Week 1 and 2
Week 3


Jun
2018

Random Thoughts Thursday 25

categories: Random Thoughts Thursday

Random Thoughts Thursday

• I am not creative at all and struggle to find something cute and fun for students to make.  A few years ago a teacher shared a Father’s Day card idea with me.  Isn’t it cute?  I had my students make this last week for Father’s Day.  Now I have the perfect card for their father but now need one for Mother’s Day. 

Father's Day Card-1

• On Sunday I was running on the lakefront and came upon a sign promoting a race that was to start at 8am.  I got a bit annoyed with it.  How can they say that the lakefront trail will be closed?  How?  Why?

Lakefront Closed Sign-1

• Check out the latest shoe release from Tieks.  I don’t care at the moment whether or not they will match any of my clothes but I like them anyway and I ordered a pair.  I am sure I will find something that will match.

Tieks-16

• How cute are these shoes from the Brooks’ Victory Collection?  I found out about them yesterday and the Launch 5 is already sold out.  No bueno.

Brooks Victory Collection-1

 • Did you ever collect beanie babies?  I did.  I remember collecting these 20 years ago but cannot remember the reason.  I’ve moved various times and these beanie babies have also moved with me.  I did not want to give them away much less throw them away.  One year I thought about giving them to my students as prizes but that didn’t happen.  A friend of mine asked for these to donate to her cat rescue shelter.  She said that the cats enjoy snuggling to the little bears.  Aww, adorable.  Lola has two (cats) but she ignores them.  You bet I will be making a donation.  

Beanie Babies-1