I kicked this week's booty...but not food-wise!

     Okay, so I have not completed my training for the week yet, but I just want to say that I am pretty pumped up and ready to rock this training program. Again, I am using the Hal Higdon Intermediate training program. For more information, or to look at the different Higdon training plans, please visit: 
Hal Higdon rocks my socks! <<<Click here
     Anyway, the strange thing about this running program is that it skips both interval and tempo training. I don't know if this is a good or a bad thing, but I loved interval training throughout both of my half marathons. I think I am going to mix it in once a week, or even every other week instead of a short run. I think it would be more effective if I did it every week though, if I want to get faster...but I have discovered something very obvious this week:
If I want to race faster, I have to become uncomfortable in my training! Go figure. Who would have thought!? :) And so, for the past few days these were my average paces for each of my runs:
3 mile run: 7:52 min/mi
5 mile run: 8:15 min/mi
3 mile run: 8:15 min/mi

I am already getting a little faster, and I am getting to be somewhat consistent. I think I was at a 7:59 min/mi average a couple of different runs last week, but if I can see a seven something once each week, I would be absolutely fine with that.

I am trying to eat healthier, but that has been the constant battle my whole life. I probably do not eat as bad as most people, but I expect more from myself for some reason, although I have never been the perfect eater. I think the problem is my self-control (I have none), and I get disappointed in myself if I eat too many sweets, or large portions.

Being a teacher is hard I have realized when it comes to having to turn away sweets. When any student has a birthday, they bring treats and they are usually HOMEMADE. I know, the hardest treats in the world to resist. It isn't just that my students bring treats, but all of the students in our building come around and offer goodies for their birthdays. So in a year, you would have to turn down a great many treats! Don't get me wrong, I do turn down some of them, but not all. Sometimes I just take the treat, and once they leave I  take a bite and throw the rest in the trash...that should count for something, right?

It is also a constant struggle when the people you live with eat differently than you do. There are temptations everywhere, and with very little self-control...I'm sunk! 

Anyway, I would like to eat better. I just want to be HEALTHIER. I want to establish BETTER eating habits. I see a new goal for February...

We have a five miler on Saturday, and eight miles on Sunday! Looking forward to it. 

“You only ever grow as a human being if you’re outside your comfort zone.” -Percy Cerutty

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<One of my favorite running songs!

and I run...

Well, it feels like it has been a while since I last posted. 
I have been running...but I can't wait to get back into MARATHON training. It has been hard without a set schedule (as usual). 
Last weekend, I only logged in ten miles (four Saturday & six Sunday). I was able to run in my hometown on both days. It is a lot flatter in My hometown than it is in Albuquerque, so I was speedy. I think I am getting faster, and it is great to see those faster times on my Garmin watch. 

Recent Times: Sunday 6.08 miles 8:18/mi

Saturday: 4.01 miles 8:29/mi

January 16th: 3.01 miles 7:59/mi

January 15th: 4.01 miles 7:59/mi

January 13th: 5.01 miles 8:18/mi :) 

My husband's family have been here for the last few weekends working on our house...so he has been unable to workout consistently (since he is helping). However, since I am not very handy with tools, I am able to still get my runs in, and I noticed that even without him I am keeping it consistent (GO ME!). 
Tonight I am going to change it up a bit and go to Hot Yoga. My friend told me about a Living Social deal, and I decided that I needed to stretch more often, so I went for it. We will see how nice it truly is. I haven't done any type of yoga in a year and half, and supposedly yoga is a good thing for runners...so we shall see. If all goes well, I will continue going once a week, just so I make sure I am aligned in all of the necessary places. :) I will let you know. 
We start training again on Monday, and I cannot wait. We already did a week of training, when our schedule got pushed back a few weeks. I am ready to go strong again. 

#runner #irun #workhardtrainhard #runner +Stephanie Miers 

How do you feel about running with your significant other? ;)

Last week was an amazing first week back. I think I ran harder and faster than I have in the past because I had my husband by my side.

 What do you all think...is it hard to run with your significant other? Do you get frustrated easily with one another when you are running? I know we do, but I think that it actually ends up making me push harder. It will make our relationship stronger, I just know it (well I hope, at least). My BFF Steph and I are closer than ever because of running, so how could Conrad and I not bond throughout the process ;) I will definitely keep you updated with this whole thing, but if anyone reading feels the same way I want to know! Don't be shy. 

Anyway, we had a little bit of bad news this week. Stephanie's boyfriend, Jalen, had something come up on the day that we were supposed to run the marathon, SO change of plans! We will now be running the Newport Marathon on May 31, 2014. Exciting, right? I read GREAT reviews, and we are all determined to do it in better than four hours. It is supposed to be a fast course, so we will see. 

We did a lot of running last week that ended up totaling 24 miles. Monday-Crosstrain, Tuesday-3, Wednesday-5, Thursday-3, Friday-Rest, Saturday-5pace, and Sunday-8 miles! I would say that my favorite run was on Thursday. It was memorable because for the first time training, I maintained an average pace of 7:40. I never usually push myself that hard when I am training, and it felt good. When your body does things that you don't expect, it is really motivational because you learn more about yourself and your body that you never knew before... and then you gain more confidence and have more faith in yourself. I <3 running! 

Running in the Bosque was tough this week. I don't know if it was because I wasn't ready for the eight miles, if the weather just sucked, or a combination between the two...but wow. The first four miles were a piece of cake, and my husband and I were trying to maintain an 8:30min/mi pace. I told him at one point that I could run like that forever! Then came the turn around, and it was awful. I guess a reason why I felt so great was because the wind was helping me go...but on the way back it was against us, and the gusts were horrible. It was making me so mad. I was trying to tell myself to get over it, but it was tough.

I see all of these amazing women on Instagram and they push through much more than I do, and go out in much colder weather. I really and truly find myself motivated by other people who are stronger than I am. Other people have stories much more amazing than I do, and I want to hear them. I see them and think, "If they can do it, why can't I?" So then it just inspires me to run harder or longer...or those are the people I think of when the wind is blowing against me, and I think I cannot go another step.

I run. Anywhere.

Here I am again, ready to celebrate a whole year that was filled with so many great things. Honestly though, I have so much to look forward to in the new year, there is absolutely no looking back now! 

This morning I went on a run in the foothills of Albuquerque. I was blown away by the beauty of the New Mexican desert. Since I am posting photos daily on Instagram @journey2MY1stMarathon, I want to try to start running in more scenic spots, instead of always where it is easiest. 

The drive was only ten minutes long, and I found a nice little parking lot where I could park. There were trails in every direction. It made me wonder why I hadn't ventured out to begin with!  Of course, I had to stop for a few seconds for each picture, but this is the first thing I was able to see. 

I absolutely loved the view, but let me tell you, trail running is a whole new beast that I would love to tackle. I am more of a road runner, only because it is most convenient, but I truly truly appreciated where the trail led. Convenience though wasn't the only reason for staying on the roads...I am also a BIG CHICKEN. At one point in my life I wanted to be a detective for the FBI, and my dad told me that it wouldn't workout because I was afraid of my own shadow. So, then my dad bought me a can of mace, and that wasn't enough to give me courage, so he bought me a stun gun...anyway, do you think that I carry it? No, I don't like carrying anything when I run. Anyway, this is why I stay on the roads=people can see me and I can call for help if needed. I do run in Albuquerque, where our crime rate is through the roof! 
Anyway, to get back on track...with my husband there the sky will be the limit! I will be able to explore new and beautiful places in Albuquerque! 

Today's run was much slower than my six mile run on Sunday, but I was okay with that. Our training schedule only called for three miles, so I didn't mind stopping here or there for pictures. Three miles at this point is a very easy run, and I don't feel like it hurts to stop. Man! I am so lucky to be able to say that...and it is only easy because I have been "running" now for a couple of years. 
So, on Sunday, near my house I hit a maximum elevation of 5,448, with a gain of only 209 ft. 
Today, I hit a maximum elevation of 6,033, and gained 303 ft. 
Let me tell you though, it felt like I was a thousand feet higher in elevation up there. :)

I really look up to Dorothy Beal, and by following her on Instagram (mileposts), it has helped push me to go further. I want to be that inspiration for other runners who are just starting out. I want to be someone who can tell them, start one mile at a time, and you will get there because with all my heart that is what I believe. 

Let's see what our minds can push us to do! Please let me know what you are training for, or what your goals are.

“The sky is not my limit...I am.” 

― T.F. Hodge, From Within I Rise: Spiritual Triumph Over Death and Conscious Encounters with "The Divine Presence"

Back at it/ I'm running

Well today marks the first day back at it. My husband and I are now training for a marathon. These past couple of months consisted of eating junk, and working out whenever it suited me. I am ready to get back in the groove, and to have a goal again! 
In 2014, I plan on becoming an even better runner! I know that it is going to be hard because we may start trying to have kids in the summer, but I want to still run (just not as far once summer arrives.)
We are planning on running a marathon in May, so we have quite a few months to train! It is going to be long and grueling, but hopefully we will do well. Our goal is to run it in less than four hours. Training in higher altitude should really help us because we are planning on racing at sea level.
This last week I only ran 18 miles, and so I am going to have to start getting used to running more than that in the coming weeks. This week, I am going to have to run 24 miles! We are using the Hal Higdon Intermediate Training program, and it has definitely worked for my friend and I when we trained for the two half marathons.
Today's training (Mondays) consisted of cross training. I just decided to do intervals on the treadmill because it doesn't have intervals in this training plan, and in order to get faster, I think you have to do some! I also worked on the row machine, and lifted some weights. My goal is to try and lift at least once a week while training. I would like to lose about ten pounds, although I do not want to weigh in because I will drive myself crazy. I will be able to notice if I have lost weight by the way my clothes fit, and how I feel. It shouldn't be too difficult because I hope to be eating better, and with all the miles we will be running, it shouldn't be too hard a feat. 
In 2013, since May, I have ran over 440 miles. I know this because of my awesome Garmin watch that my husband bought for me for my birthday. I say over because I did not record every run. Within those 440 miles, I gained over 25,000 feet in elevation. I recorded the least amount of runs in November, and that is when I started slacking off in all aspects of being healthy. 
I am so very thankful that my husband is running this one with me. It will be nice to run together, and maybe be a little more creative in where we run!

 Goals for the new year:
Run at least:
Three 5ks
Two 10ks
One 1/2 marathon
One Marathon

Drink less alcohol
Volunteer my time
Take vitamins consistently
Eat clean-ish :) 
Be closer to God
(In no particular order)

Let's bring on the new year! Good luck to everyone, and I hope you reach your goals. PS You are more likely to achieve your goals, if you set them! ;)

Slow and steady doesn't win this type of race...

I would call this week a good one. Monday is usually a strength and stretch day according to the Hal Higdon plan. I use body pump for strength, but I really do struggle on getting stretching in. I know I need to put a lot more time into stretching if I want to stay injury free, but I just come up with a lot of excuses...and really that's all they are. I can talk your head off about how I don't really have time, but in all actuality, I don't make time.
On Tuesdays, I do an early morning run with a friend who is also going to do a half in October. She is doing the Duke City, and I am doing the Day of the Tread, a week a part. We only do a short 3.4 miles, but it is a good incline/hill workout to get our endurance up. :) We are going to start a new course this week though; it will be easier, but longer.
On Wednesdays, I do body pump again. Now that it got added at my gym, it is my new addiction, really. I also get a few miles of running in at night.
I skipped Thursday this week.
I have been coaching a lot of volleyball for my school this week, and it has been fairly demanding. I have barely had any extra time this week, but it is a fairly short season.
On Friday, I woke up early and ran intervals. I did 8X400; this is also a part of the Hal Higdon plan.
Saturday was a slow 4 miles, I felt like crap and couldn't seem to hit a decent speed. The arroyo by our house is nice, but it is either all downhill heading west, or all uphill heading east, and it is no longer my favorite.

Today was my long run and I really felt good about it. I used my Garmin connect to look up how I was doing at nine miles when training for the last race, earlier this summer, and I discovered that I am running about a minute a mile faster! This is very encouraging because I am starting to really figure out how to run...I think, at least! I ran from my house around Academy and back, which as nine miles exactly.
I am ready to try and be a little better than I was last race, although I know how difficult this is going to be because I am 5,000 ft. higher in elevation. I am still trying to figure out how to do it because the two weekends before my race, I will be hunting out of town. It will definitely be interesting. Steph says she will try to get an 8:30 min/mi pace, and I just don't know if I can do it alone.
I can try though, but finishing this one might just be enough for me...oh I wish this was true.
Well runners, I hope that you have a fantastic week, and I will keep you posted, maybe with a little more detail.

The weekend

I do my long runs usually on the weekend, but last week I had to do a long run on Thursday because I was camping in the Pecos last weekend. I met a woman from my exercise class who is a member of a  local running, and I asked her if she would run with me. Although she was slower than I am, we had an amazing run. She showed me local trails along the Rio Grande that I would have never even known about. It is good to sometimes not keep track how fast you are running, and tie up your laces, and just enjoy. I still got my miles in, only I got a whole different type of experience. I love where running takes me sometimes. It is fun to connect with someone who has a whole different perspective on running. She doesn't listen to music, she doesn't own a GPS; she just does it because she loves it, and together we got our eight miles in.
This weekend I had it pretty easy. I was supposed to run a 10k race, but instead I just pushed myself to run it as fast as I was motivated to. I ended it with an average of 8 min/mi. It felt good, and it was definitely an easy run. My husband, Conrad, and our dog, George, ran half of it with me. It is always nice to have company. 
I am waiting to hear how Steph did on her run today. 
Good luck on your runs this week, wherever you may be, and remember, it is nice to sometimes leave your devices at home...and just run!