30:21

My time on my treadmill three today. Although I must say, it nearly killed me.

Changing Goals

6.5 done today. It was a good and joyful run. I focused really on just finishing the run doing the intervals I wanted to do (which I did, 5R/1W), I did not look at my Garmin, and my time was correspondingly disappointing (11:58/mile).

So, I get home and I'm telling Chris that it was a really nice run, but I just cannot seem to do much better than a 12 minute mile for those kind of distances, and I just don't think I am going to be able to do Vegas in 2:30:00 like I wanted to.

He commented that I just did not seem very excited about this race, not happy in my training, etc.

And I realized it is because I have just been focusing way too much on time. Half Marathons are supposed to be at least somewhat fun, and if they aren't, then why do them? Last week's long run was miserable. I ran hard, kind of hurt my foot, and all for 11:50/mi, STILL not the pace I wanted to hit and was miserable to boot.

So, I'm done with this 2:30:00 goal. I am hereby changing the goal! My only goal is to beat my previous time, even if it is only by one minute (hell, even if it is only by one second!). I want to run the race at 5R/1W intervals, and beat my former time. That's it, that is all. Oh, and I would prefer to have a bit of fun while doing it.

3.5

Did 3.5 outside, in about 43 minutes, although I didn't have my garmin so that time is very approximate. But the real news is I did 7R/1W intervals. This meant I had to run all the way up nemesis hill with no walk break.

But it's a weird thing lately. Running harder is coming more easily than I would have thought. I increase my intervals and it's just not that big of a deal. You just never can tell when your body is going to decide to make some leap forward, it doesn't seem to have very much rhyme or reason. I thought it was going to be much harder after so much treadmill running this summer, but it really hasn't been. Which just goes to show you that treadmill running = still running, and will still keep you at a decent fitness level, even if you aren't working as hard as you might, so then when you are ready to really hit it, it's not so hard. The other thing I have noticed is that hills aren't as big a darn deal as they used to be... I used to plan runs around hills (how many, how steep, etc.) and now I just find myself not thinking about them too much.

Anyway, after having a few brief but glorious minutes thinking I had a free evening after football practice got cancelled due to rain, my daughter reminded me that now I can go to her forensics team parent meeting, which I was previously going to have to miss because of football. So, off I go to finish the second shift, which these days never seems to end.

This Ain't Some Bullshit

that was my response to chris yesterday when he commented that he wished he had my motivation. i also added that this is life or death and i meant it. it's the difference between me watching my grandkids graduate from high school or spending twelve hours a week in some goddamn dialysis chair.

at any rate, 5.5 miles today at 5r/1w intervals, 11:40/mile. a good run.

Hitting the Trail

Did five miles on the trail today. It started out bad, but ended up well enough. I did 4R/1W intervals, and time was 11:57/mile. So, I think I have this right, if I can just get myself up to 5R/1W for the Vegas half, I should be able to get it done in 2.5 hours, or come pretty darn close.

In other news, yesterday I ran three miles on the treadmill. Ordinarily, this would not merit mention, BUT..... I did it in 30:25. Word.

YES!!!!!

Weight this morning was actually what has been on my MyFitnessPal account, which was last updated well before the lapband-slip disaster of aught 12!

So I guess now we can move on to the real challenge, which is keeping it there or even, goddess forbid, losing NEW weight.

It's been a pretty easy thing lately around our house, since my boy has to cut a bit of weight for football. Endless talk has thus ensued about how to lose real weight, how to lose "fake weight", and basically very small dinners for everyone, since we all want to support him. He is only a couple of pounds away and we aren't doing anything terrible, just so nobody is concerned. Just eating less and absolutely NO junk food. He doesn't have to do this forever, he is allowed to "gain" a pound a week, so the worst thing that can happen is he'll have to sit out a game and then by the next week he'll be all set. I'm irritable with Pop Warner for putting him in this division, since he was over the weight limit for it when we signed him up, but that is a whole other Oprah.

Anyhoodle, I ran 4.1 miles while he was practicing last night. He practices in this other suburb of Denver, called Parker. And here's what's weird.... I've run there twice now, while he is practicing and both times, it has been late evening, and I have not passed a single other runner. In four miles!! Here in Castle Rock, you see other runners no matter when you run or how far, there are ALWAYS other runners out and about. The area in Parker seems to be pretty wealthy, judging by the houses, so WTF Parker? All wealth and no health?

Where you're going has no signs
and you're not going in a straight line

Eyes on the prize, reboot the mission
I've lost the sight, but not the vision

- The Wallflowers, Reboot The Mission

Did 3.1 this morning. The first three days of this week are going to be challenging, Chris is traveling and I have to get everything done, which means the only time I have to run is if I get up at 5AM, have a quick cup of coffee and get going. I was able to do that this morning, but it proves challenging for me to try to do it more than one day in the week.

I am going SO slow these days. But I am only two pounds away from what I consider to be my "comfort" weight. Running is definitely easier without the extra poundage, but those last two pounds are proving quite stubborn and don't seem to want to come off. Oh well. The band is definitely working the way it is supposed to right now, so the rest is just up to me.