Good Morning, it's a stormy day here. I was able to get out and do my run between the rain. The streets were wet but I stayed dry! I had to do a 15 minute race pace run and then add 5 minutes to that if I wanted to (plus 15 minutes warmup and 15 minutes cooldown). I opted out of the extra 5 minutes because I could hear thunder and there was a strange car driving around, so I decided to head back toward home. I felt good about the run and I need to do a lot more like that but I don't see anything like that coming up on my training plan. This coming week is going to be interesting because we are supposed to have a lot of rain and thunderstorms. I need to get going, I need to do some strength training and yoga today! Run Happy!

Happy Monday! I truly love Mondays and look forward to the week ahead. Jenny, sounds like your running is going so well!!!

I did my lower body strength yesterday and I felt like I am getting stronger. Then I did some core work and a flow yoga session - flow was short and hard and it just makes me realize how much I have lost in the past year and a half - I used to do a hot yoga class for 90 minutes. I will continue to do this session frequently to get myself back in shape.

Today would typically be a rest day but since we mostly walked on Saturday and also because the week ahead looks very iffy as far as the weather (lots of thunderstorms are predicted), I decided to do the Tuesday workout today. I will continue to reschedule as I see fit to make sure I get my workouts in. The long run will be the hard one, I don't want to do that one early but I also don't want to miss it.

My run this morning was an easy run, 5 minute warmup, 5 minute cooldown and 35 minute run at a slow pace. I thought it went well. There is no school this week (due to fall break) so I didn't have to worry about traffic as much and I was able to switch up my route. Later I will do some yoga - and maybe some upper body.

Run Happy!

Hello All!!!! Hope everyone's runs are going well. Becky, thinking of you! Em, if you are stalking us, how are you doing? Jenny, hope you had a good yoga session today!

Sharon, you are doing great! I wish I could get back to my faster pace but one step at a time, right? My 5k PR is 29 minutes, now I can do like 39 minutes. I am feeling motivated, it's just not happening that fast. I see tiny bits of improvement. There have been a ton of races around here, I just haven't felt that comfortable doing some of them, too crowded, no masks, and no social distancing.

I got my run in this morning, it was 90% humidity and in the high 60s. That combined with this being my third day in a row of running, it wasn't as great as I had hoped but still, I see tiny signs of improvement. Oh, and my watch messed up like three times I think, I usually have no problems with it so maybe it was user error - my workout is right on my watch so I really need that to work! First thing was that it somehow paused itself during my 10 minute warmup. Then I guess it somehow lapped itself and I didn't realize it so I didn't start my intervals at the right time. I stopped at least a couple of times to fiddle with it and of course I can't see it since I didn't have my reading glasses. So, despite having stopped and walked, etc, I guess it was okay but I felt it could have been better. I got home and did upper body strength and then yoga. My next run is my long run and I really hope the weather cooperates for that. I need a day off running and that really must be tomorrow but I am worried with this weather - rain, thunderstorms...I need to do my long run on Thursday but so far the weather isn't looking promising for that.

Sharon, it's so good that they found the blockages, wow that is scary but it sounds like it will be okay! I know you are excited to see your son. How long can he stay?

I am really glad I started up the yoga again - after just a couple of weeks I feel it is really helping. I had a personal trainer at one point who felt yoga wasn't that beneficial for runners but I beg to differ - I can tell - even though the workouts I am doing are short, I feel so much better after them.

Okay, gotta move on, take care everyone and run happy!

Hi Everyone! Today I did my long run, and it went well. My breathing seemed fine, my legs, feet and most importantly my lower back didn't hurt terribly. The pace was within the suggested range. I am still really worried about the half because I feel like I still have to walk a lot, go a lot further, and survive the big hills on the race course. The race is November 14th so there is still a little bit of time. I don't know if I will meet my pace goal but I will definitely finish the race - I am feeling stronger. Next week's workouts look pretty light and no long run. After I did my run I did a quick post run yoga session. For the run I took a date roll with me to eat mid-run. I will probably never be fat adapted (due to eating restrictions) so I have in the past for long runs eaten a bit of something and that seems to help with my energy. I will do Huma gels but honestly, real food makes me happier and date rolls are tasty. After I got home I had a small snack and then had a good lunch with my DH - I need to focus closely on my nutrition as I head into the next month of training. This will help with recovery. In addition, I always used to wear compression socks (or tights for marathons) post run, so I have resumed doing that as well. I estimated my run today (based on time, not distance) would be between 7.5 miles and 8.0 miles, and it ended up being 7.79 miles so I was right in the middle of my estimate.

Got a very very short run in this morning. Just wasn't feeling it so I opted to do only the required 20 minutes and didn't do the optional 15 minutes extra. It was pretty warm and humid, plus I did speed work yesterday. I got home and tried out a new workout for core, that went pretty well - it was super basic but I feel like I am struggling with that area so maybe super basic is what I need. Then was going to do a yoga session but didn't complete it. Tomorrow is my rest day and I will do some yoga but I can tell my body is ready to actually REST. I got in the pool in the afternoon and did some more stretching and that was nice! Hope everyone is doing well!!!

Only a short run on the training plan today and in fact, no long run for this week at all - not sure why but I feel kind of uncomfortable with that. Longest run so far was an hour and 45 minutes and a few years ago that would have been perfect but now? Nope, I am sure I will end up being out there on the course for at least three hours, so I need some longer runs. So today I went out and did the short run, then I added another three miles to that and then did a couple of miles of walking. Not so happy with my running lately, I feel like I am losing speed rather than gaining it, despite doing speedwork now, and my endurance is severely lacking. I wish I could remember the last time I had a good race - maybe it was 2018 when I did Rock 'n Roll Nashville half in 2:30 (that was not a PR, not even a course PR). Ugh, I don't know but I am so frustrated because my body just doesn't want to cooperate anymore. I am doing dynamic stretches before, trying to fuel properly, trying to do recovery, strength training, getting plenty of sleep, yoga, not sure what I am missing here! Even the short runs feel like a huge struggle.

Hello, and happy belated birthday Sharon!!! So glad you had your son there and hope you were able to enjoy Chinese food with your brother! Sounds so nice. How is your foot feeling? I hope it is still okay! Are you going to try a chiro for your back? I have arthritis in my spine, no huge surprise as I have arthritis everywhere apparently. I hope that they an figure out how to treat yours Sharon and mitigate any pain.

Our power was out this morning for a while, not sure why but I didn't want to go run in this humidity and not be able to shower so I waited even later than I usually do. I was pretty much dripping with sweat - my hair was WET. I just hate how slow I am now. I mean, I can't even maintain a 12 min/mile anymore, UGH!!! I NEVER used to be fast, but I could do a 2:24 half marathon, and this is just atrocious, more like a 13 - 14 min/mile. I hope you are right Sharon, maybe next week when the weather is a bit cooler and less humid I will feel better. Tomorrow is supposed to be even hotter than today but then we should see some relief! I did enjoy the pool today. I think tomorrow will be the last day for the season!

Happy Friday! It's a nonrunning day for me. I did some strength training and some yoga earlier. Perhaps I will do some more yoga later.

Track work today, felt very very good. I meant to go early when it was 43 degrees F but I didn't go until later and it was warmer by then - still had my long sleeves on but I actually felt great and was very happy with the workout. Strength training and yoga after that.

Hi Sharon, so glad you got your son for a few days! I know you are so looking forward to your race and you are so well trained! You are going to do great!

Today was my rest day, I didn't run. I did do yoga this morning and probably will do a small session of yoga tonight before bed. I am so glad I finally started doing that again, I feel it is really helping me (both mentally and physically)!

Hello Jenny and Sharon! Em and Becky, if you are stalking, we miss you both and hope you are doing well!

Jenny, it sounds like your run today went great - running that fast in the wind, yeah, I can imagine you were breathing hard! Very well done! So glad you hip is doing better. And thank you again for referring me to Adriene, I am loving her yoga so very much. Sometimes in the evening I will do one for lower back and hip pain and I am sure it is helping. I also do one right before bed to help wind down and help me sleep.

Sharon, you are doing great, so impressive on that mileage, I daresay you are almost ready to do a marathon! Sounds like you and your DH struck gold with the doctor, that must be very comforting. My Garmin often says I slept way more than I think I did - I am very still in the night when I am awake so I guess it thinks I am sleeping even when I am not. But in general, since I quit my job, I have been sleeping so much better - every few nights I might have an off night but generally it is good. Is your hip feeling better today? I've never used an inversion table, if you get that set up I will be very interested to see what you think. I have a feeling we will grow old in this house as well, though I am ready to downsize. With this really insane housing market though, I think it can't happen. It worries me because this house is too much for us as far as the yard and the pool, plus there are stairs to the laundry room that could at some point be difficult to navigate. I've looked into 55+ communities but yikes, they are sooo expensive - at a time when I want to save money. Just a smaller yard with less upkeep would be helpful.

My run this morning was decent. I was doing speedwork and since the track is not available during school hours I went to a park that is relatively flat. There is still a lot of room for improvement but I still felt pretty good about it. I wish I had more time to train - I am on week 10 of 14 of my plan. I don't feel that I will meet my goal but it's okay, I am slowly improving and if I can just keep working at it, maybe my spring race will be better. I just signed up for a 10k trail run that is in December. And I have Hot Chocolate 15k in February, assuming it isn't canceled. The other half marathon is in April....lots to look forward to. Once this training plan is over, I will probably do four days a week - as I mentioned before, I think five is a lot. I did that when I was doing marathon training. That is why when I do at least one of my easy runs during the week, I don't mind too much if I walk a lot. But still, I have bad endurance, so that is something to work toward! All in good time!

Have a terrific day and everyone enjoy your runs!