We've had a few gorgeous spring days in a row here! Yesterday, I met up with Jessica for coffee in the late morning, and we chatted for a while. I deliberately wore my running clothes there, so that on the way home, I could find a spot to park and get in my four-mile easy run.
By the time I left, it was about 12:15, and I was starving. Normally, I eat lunch at around 11. But I wanted to get in my run before going home, so I stopped and parked along the same route I did for my long run on Thursday. My goal pace for an easy run is 8:55-9:53/mi, so that's what I was aiming for.
Despite the fact that it was the middle of the day in June, it wasn't miserably hot. It felt pretty good, actually! I did a lollipop route that I guessed was about four miles (I was off by a half mile in the end). Once I reached four miles, I just stopped my Garmin and enjoyed a nice walk back to the car.
I've realized recently that I really like running in the late morning/early afternoon, because it curbs my appetite for the rest of the day. For some reason, I find it much easier to stay on track with my eating when I exercise later (versus exercising first thing in the morning).
Today, I worked on a project all morning, and at noon, my stomach started growling. I knew I was doing speed work today, so I definitely didn't want to do that on a full stomach. I was really dreading it, because, well, speed work is HARD.
I decided to do 400-meter repeats instead of 800's today. (If you're not a numbers nerd like me, you can just skip the down the page a little ;)). When training for a marathon, 400's are pretty useless, but since I'm not trying to improve my marathon time, I figured I would just do 400's because I like them better. The goal was to do eight repeats, completing each one in 1:43-1:49 (6:52-7:16/mi pace).
I set my Garmin to do intervals--0.25 miles active and then 0.13 miles recovery. Instead of watching Netflix (it's too hard to watch TV while doing a tough speed workout), I just cranked up the radio really loud. I set the treadmill at 8.7 mph (a 6:53 pace) for my active intervals. After the first interval, I set the treadmill at 3.0 mph in order to walk; but changed my mind after a minute and set it to 5.5 mph for a slow jog between the active intervals.
After doing 800's for months, running the 400's was so refreshing! It was still a tough workout, but it goes by so much faster. Regardless, I was glad to be done!
Looks like I ran a lot further than 3 miles, doesn't it? ;) The only problem with doing intervals on the treadmill is the time it takes to adjust from one speed to another. I changed the speed as soon as I saw that I was getting close to the next interval, and that way I wouldn't waste half of the time waiting for the speed to pick up. But I like the intervals on the treadmill better than outside, because I don't have to constantly check to see if I'm on pace. My heart rate graph looked pretty cool:
Because the weather has been so nice this week, I'm thinking I may change my 10K race this week to the 10-Miler instead. I have a 10-mile run on the schedule this weekend anyway, so I could just call it my long run. I wasn't planning to try to PR or anything, no matter what distance I do, so it looks like I may just change it.
Last year, I wore a hula skirt, lei, and seashell bra over my running clothes for this race. I don't think I'm going to dress up again this year, though. It was kind of a pain to run in that stuff! This race is SO much fun, though; one of the funnest races I've been to.
I feel like I'm saying this every Tuesday now, but this week has been a mess for me, and I want to get and stay focused when my PointsPlus reset tomorrow. I'm finishing this week 120 PointsPlus over my maximum. I do good for a couple of days, and then have a day where I just use the "But it's summer!" excuse.
I have my annual gynecologist appointment next week, so that is helping to keep me on track right now. I think at this time last year, I was up to about 150 pounds. It would be nice to go in there and be in my goal range (under 135). I'm trying to think of a reward of some sort to give myself if I don't go over my PointsPlus next week. Not food, though.
I was thinking I might put $20 in a jar for every week I don't go over my PointsPlus and use it to travel somewhere for a race when I have enough money. I feel like I'm finally over my fear of flying enough to want to go places. Maybe if I put the money jar on the kitchen counter, along with a picture of where I want to go, it will keep me from using the "But it's summer!" excuse? :)
By the time I left, it was about 12:15, and I was starving. Normally, I eat lunch at around 11. But I wanted to get in my run before going home, so I stopped and parked along the same route I did for my long run on Thursday. My goal pace for an easy run is 8:55-9:53/mi, so that's what I was aiming for.
Despite the fact that it was the middle of the day in June, it wasn't miserably hot. It felt pretty good, actually! I did a lollipop route that I guessed was about four miles (I was off by a half mile in the end). Once I reached four miles, I just stopped my Garmin and enjoyed a nice walk back to the car.
I've realized recently that I really like running in the late morning/early afternoon, because it curbs my appetite for the rest of the day. For some reason, I find it much easier to stay on track with my eating when I exercise later (versus exercising first thing in the morning).
Today, I worked on a project all morning, and at noon, my stomach started growling. I knew I was doing speed work today, so I definitely didn't want to do that on a full stomach. I was really dreading it, because, well, speed work is HARD.
I decided to do 400-meter repeats instead of 800's today. (If you're not a numbers nerd like me, you can just skip the down the page a little ;)). When training for a marathon, 400's are pretty useless, but since I'm not trying to improve my marathon time, I figured I would just do 400's because I like them better. The goal was to do eight repeats, completing each one in 1:43-1:49 (6:52-7:16/mi pace).
I set my Garmin to do intervals--0.25 miles active and then 0.13 miles recovery. Instead of watching Netflix (it's too hard to watch TV while doing a tough speed workout), I just cranked up the radio really loud. I set the treadmill at 8.7 mph (a 6:53 pace) for my active intervals. After the first interval, I set the treadmill at 3.0 mph in order to walk; but changed my mind after a minute and set it to 5.5 mph for a slow jog between the active intervals.
After doing 800's for months, running the 400's was so refreshing! It was still a tough workout, but it goes by so much faster. Regardless, I was glad to be done!
Looks like I ran a lot further than 3 miles, doesn't it? ;) The only problem with doing intervals on the treadmill is the time it takes to adjust from one speed to another. I changed the speed as soon as I saw that I was getting close to the next interval, and that way I wouldn't waste half of the time waiting for the speed to pick up. But I like the intervals on the treadmill better than outside, because I don't have to constantly check to see if I'm on pace. My heart rate graph looked pretty cool:
Because the weather has been so nice this week, I'm thinking I may change my 10K race this week to the 10-Miler instead. I have a 10-mile run on the schedule this weekend anyway, so I could just call it my long run. I wasn't planning to try to PR or anything, no matter what distance I do, so it looks like I may just change it.
Last year, I wore a hula skirt, lei, and seashell bra over my running clothes for this race. I don't think I'm going to dress up again this year, though. It was kind of a pain to run in that stuff! This race is SO much fun, though; one of the funnest races I've been to.
I feel like I'm saying this every Tuesday now, but this week has been a mess for me, and I want to get and stay focused when my PointsPlus reset tomorrow. I'm finishing this week 120 PointsPlus over my maximum. I do good for a couple of days, and then have a day where I just use the "But it's summer!" excuse.
I have my annual gynecologist appointment next week, so that is helping to keep me on track right now. I think at this time last year, I was up to about 150 pounds. It would be nice to go in there and be in my goal range (under 135). I'm trying to think of a reward of some sort to give myself if I don't go over my PointsPlus next week. Not food, though.
I was thinking I might put $20 in a jar for every week I don't go over my PointsPlus and use it to travel somewhere for a race when I have enough money. I feel like I'm finally over my fear of flying enough to want to go places. Maybe if I put the money jar on the kitchen counter, along with a picture of where I want to go, it will keep me from using the "But it's summer!" excuse? :)
