Glow Hard

Lame, boring recap of past workouts.

July 19 was the Kids' Tri, in which I did the amazing distance of 200m swim, 5 mile bike, and 1.2 mile run. I tell ya though, that run was hard, really hard. Never underestimate a triathlon no matter what the distance. DV said it was hard, too, so it's always nice to know the fast folks feel the same as me.

I think the week before I met Allison to run around the 'hood and probably did 6 or so miles. I've been feeling really fatigued in my legs since the move, so some workouts have been difficult for me.

July 21 we did 700s, and Gilbert told us to do 6 at a slower pace. I went fairly slow, which was fine for me. I didn't even time them, and by the time the 6th one came around, I was pooped. It's been such a hot, hot summer, so running at 5:30pm has been fairly brutal.

July 22 - Total Body Sculpt at Lifetime Fitness. Ow. The entire hour and 15 mins I kept thinking, "I have do 800s tomorrow." It's a great class, but I seem to be sore from it for days...and it really is "total body."

July 23 was a fun workout, actually. That was the evening a crazy rain storm blew threw right as I was driving to running class (about 5:15pm). I knew the storm would keep tons of folks away. When I got to the track at 5:30pm, the rain had blown over and the sun was out. The air was thick with moisture, and the sun kept pushing the clouds aside determined to beat down on the few of us that made it to class. We were scheduled for 800s, which isn't a favorite of mine but don't do it often enough to truly fear it. Let me point out that Sarah and I were the only gals to show up. We ran most of them together, and at the start, 6 repeats seemed like a lot. We didn't think we could make ourselves go faster each repeat, but we somehow did. My last one was 4:44, which surprised me since I haven't been consistently running this summer. I really didn't think I'd be able to run that fast in the sauna we were dealt that day. I left really happy and proud of doing all 6 and doing them well.

July 26 - Blanco Out-Back Tri. I didn't do it, which was a wise move on my part. I cheered David, Linda, and Snowdene on (as well as DVs friends). I did a 45 min long run around 11am - just ran all around Blanco State Park. It was hot but lovely. It's a nice little park.

Later that day we drove to SeaWorld for a Cub Scout sleepover. What a nightmare. The SeaWorld counselor tromped us all over the park from 5:30pm - 10:30pm with minimal breaks. Familyvance was beyond exhausted and would have happily gone to bed at 8pm. However, SeaWorld had our sleeping bags and luggage held hostage. We finally were given permission to lay down around 11 or 11:30pm. We slept in the Shark Habitat, which sounds really cool but was really horrid. The closest bathroom was maybe 1/4 mile away, and we slept on the hard floor covered by thin, filthy carpet that thousands upon thousands of people walk on daily. It was a mixed blessing when the lights were turned on at 6am. I got to get off the hard floor, but I had to interact with our fellow scouts and the SeaWorld counselors. We headed off for more tromping around the park until about 9am, when praise God, we got to be regular visitors at SeaWorld who can stop and sit down and do whatever our hearts desire. I honestly think we walked miles with that slave-driver SeaWorld counselor. And besides, she wanted us to sing summer camp songs as we walked through the park. "Peel bananas, peel, peel bananas. Oy! Stomp bananas, stomp, stomp bananas! Oy!"

Monday, July 28 - mile repeats. I forgot my watch. I ran them slow, and I did 3, even though I probably should have done 4. They weren't anywhere near my past mile repeat times, but I didn't care. My legs were beat up from SeaWorld.

Wed, July 30 - 5 mile fartlek - 3 on/1 off, 2 on/1 off, 1 on/1 off and then repeat. I went to the 5:45am class, and I got to run with Gayatri and Leslie. It was a new fartlek experience for me as there was a large group we were to stay with (Group A). I think there were 12 or so folks in this group. The faster runners would turn back on the "easy" minute to the slowest runner to make sure we stayed as a group. The thought was really nice, and I don't know that I'm against it...just new to me. The group really should have been 2 groups b/c the speeds were a little too far spread out, especially during the really rough 3 mins "on." So maybe a A1 and A2 group is in order, but it really doesn't affect me right now as I'm an afternooner where we don't need no stinkin' groups...er...at least fancy organized groups with letters assigned to us.

Sat, Aug 2 - 8+ mile long run with Leslie and Gayatri. They started at Robert E. Lee, and I met them at LAB and Exposition. I felt fine other than some muscle in my right outer calf bothering me. It's been bothering me since SeaWorld or perhaps even the triathlon on the 19th. It was humid, but I still thinks it's easier to run in a humid morning than 105 degree afternoon. Gayatri ran 14 miles! Yea! Leslie did 12 miles. Yea! Glow hard, ladies!

Now I get to unpack more boxes that we brought from the storage unit. We are never moving again.

Some amazing photos!

Why post something about myself when other things are more interesting?

YMCA Kid Pitch Summer 2008. Joshua loves playing catcher.



Elijah throws it in from the out field.


The boys at bat.





Joshua pitched the last inning of the last game. He got 2 strike outs, and the fielders got an out at 2nd. He's only 6.5 years old!



Familyvance did the Hill Country Kids' Tri last Saturday. Here you see the two cutest participants. I do have pics of me and DV which I might post when I have more time.



And we can't forget Joshua at his first ever Horse Show. He's cowboy and horse-obsessed, and here he is riding his beloved Brownie. Joshua attended a week-long camp at Bee Cave Riding School.

Diary of the SuperSlow

Running has been a struggle. Moving has worn me down inside and out. We had a horrible time with our buyers showing up on our last day in the house. It turned into a nightmare that is too long to blog about at this time.

I didn't run for a week after the Saint and moving. Last Sunday I met Allison in the 'hood to run. We both were fine going slow and walking when needed due to each of us having ailments (her shin was busted and my IT bands/knees aren't happy with all the trail running and moving). I think we ran maybe 6 miles, could be more or less. I didn't really keep track of time or distance. It was my first 'hood run from the new house, and I briefly thought about having us run by my old house. I thought better of it knowing I'd get emotional.

Monday was circuit. It was hot and muggy after some rain passed through. Lunges always get me. I'm weak in the core and suffered through the core workout. I generally love circuit, but this week was not my favorite.

Yesterday was tempo. I haven't run a tempo run in months and the last ones I did were when I was in my best running shape post-3M half marathon. If I hadn't switched gears to train for the MS150, maybe I would have stayed strong. Maybe if I hadn't switched gears and focused on moving and trail runs. Maybe if it wasn't hot, and I wasn't carrying a blubber roll around my middle.

I was determined to run 3 miles, even though Gilbert wanted most of us to run 2. I knew if I dropped back down to a 2 mile tempo, that it would be hard for me to go back to 3 miles. I felt tired in the first 400m, but my pace seemed fine. Pace seemed fine through 3/4 mile where I slowed a tad bit. I was trying to push but stay within a decent range for someone very out-of-shape. Gilbert was standing at the mile 1 marker and said, "Jessica, just turn around and do a 2 mile tempo. You'll have extra miles in the cool down." I stopped and replied, "If I don't do 3 then I'll never do 3 again." He waved me on, and I went toward the 1.5 marker.

That 2nd mile has been the slowest in past runs, so I knew it would be again. I suffered a lot and had a pain that wasn't a stitch and wasn't anything I was interested in "running through." So I walked. I knew any decent time was shot after the first walk, so I just ran and walked a few seconds here and there the whole way back. I debated stopping my watch back at the 1 mile marker and calling it a 2 mile tempo so I could walk the mile back. I didn't do it though, and I ran back with intermittent walking. I ended up with a time of 32.34, which was actually faster than I thought it would be with all the walking I did. It's a true testament to the shape I'm in physically and mentally, and hopefully, I'll get faster next time.

Am I just plain out-of-shape? Am I tired from moving and trail runs as my legs have felt weak since then? Did I struggle b/c it was the first real hard run in the heat? Have I weakened mentally with all the slow trail runs and slow long runs and cookies?

No matter how slow it was, I'm happy to have done the 3 mile tempo.

I have a little over a week to train for the Hill Country Kids' Triathlon. I'm on a team with Elijah, and our team name is The Course is With Us. David and Joshua remain a team and kept the same name from last year - Team Bob. Boys will do 100m swim, 2.5 mile bike, and 1K run. David and I will do a 200m swim, 5.1 mile bike, and 1.2 mile run. Even though those distances are super short, it's still a killer to do a tri...especially when I haven't trained.

100th and 6th

Hey, this is my 100th post. Aren't I supposed to get a cake or something? Does a new house count?

Yes, we are in the new house. It's been a pretty hectic and emotional week as we closed on our beloved little house last Thursday and leased-back until Monday when we closed on our new house. We spent all of Monday moving and were rewarded with a new fridge installation along with two batches of brownies from friendly neighbors. Ah, we now relish the joys of unpacking.

I am a fairly anxious person. Perhaps not so externally anxious, but those who know me, know that I can fret over the unknown and pending change. I've been getting little sleep, and it's caught up to me. Yesterday reminded me of the weeks after having a baby. I wanted a nap so badly, but I kept getting visitors to see the new house. When I finally got my chance to doze off, a child called my name as he attempted getting orange juice from the top shelf of the new fridge (he christened the new fridge with a big spill).

Sunday we ran the third and final trail run in the Rogue trail series (the Saint). I was beyond tired, and my body felt it the first mile or two. I ran with Leslie A., and it was once again a fun and beautiful run. We ended up running faster than I thought we were going to run. I felt sluggish and even took a migraine pill before the run. David took a hard fall, but he ended up winning 2nd overall for the series. I got 6th place overall for the series...er...6th from LAST PLACE! Geesh, I know I'm extremely slow, and I know I ran those races for fun. But it's still sucky to see my slowness posted on the internet for the world to see. I try to comfort myself by saying, "Lots of people didn't run all 3 races," or "Think of all the people who slept in all those Sundays." Ya think it works?

I never did post about Day 2 of the MS150. For my own sake, I will be posting that eventually.

I have to start biking again and swimming as we may do a couple of triathlons later this month. Nothing big or fancy. The boys are going to do a kids' tri that has a team option with a parent (race separately but times combined). At the end of the month is the always fun Blanco Out-back Tri. Dust of the tri shorts, y'all.