Updates: Ragnar, The Truth about Marathon Training, #Goals2017

How is Ragnar Training?
Its going, hah. I wish I was able to hit trails more, but hey, at least I've done a few trail runs. I'm also on a non-competitive team. Which is nice. They will give me just as much praise for a 15 minute per mile walk just as much for 6 minute per mile run.
I will be able to rest in between each leg and really foam roll!
So with that, its going! I'm just excited for some beautiful views, memories, and being around friends!




Marathon Training:
I have heard the same few pieces of advice: Its pretty much takes all your time, the race is a metal game and Good luck!
Let me elaborate on exactly what I'm going through since I'm 6 weeks and 6 days into training. I have 9 weeks and 1 day of training until the big 26.2.
1) I have NEVER put this miles on my body before when training and I have never experienced some of the inner body feelings before.
I'm tired. I'm always tired. I work 2 jobs, I have 2 kids, Jason is in school and works full time. My days are  F-U-L-L. I wake up at 4:30 some days to run, and I stay up till after my children go to bed to get a run in. I love running with my kids.... they love running with me, but I am beginning to recognize how much I need to run without them in order to learn how to maintain a comfortable pace for THIS race.
The mental game has already started. Some days I second guess myself, some days I'm super encouraged. 26.2 miles sounds more intimidating now, then it did before I started training. lol.
My body! Oh my goodness, some of the things I feel. My stomach is super sensitive, I don't want big meals, Maintaining my weight. That's why I got a coach and joined a group. So I could constantly be around several accomplished runners. I'm sure I could have googled a layout to help keep me structured every week, but having the support behind me, knowing I have a group to turn to also.... it helps so so much.( not saying I don't have support at home, trust me I do )
There is so much that goes behind prepping, and I'm starting to realize it.




2) Learning when to Rest.
Id like to consider myself a more seasoned intermediate runner.
I have a few years and a quite a few races under my belt. I've encountered some difficult training ( mostly after pregnancy). I have learned to read my body and what its saying and I've also learned (the hard way) that resting is just as important as training and fueling. I felt I was in a good point in my running journey to were I can read myself and what my needs are. If I have to miss a run because my body is in need of rest or I am extremely sore... I am 110% okay with it. Pushing yourself past your limits WILL result in injury. I also excepted that if for any reason, I had to drop to the Half marathon, that I would be okay with it. #trainsmart




3) Praising your not-so-amazing runs as often as your amazing runs:
Knocking yourself down is the quickest way to make yourself believe that you cannot do it. I will be honest with myself after every run and say it was an alright or amazing or crappy or slow, but I did it... and I feel good. I tell myself often: "Its not about the pace, its about the time spent running." Every run should be praised because you did it! NEVER sell yourself short!

Goals for 2017!!!

Right now I am signed up for:

The Woodlands Half on March 4 2017 and Ragnar Luckenbach March 31 - Apirl 1 2017

Goal 1: Get faster. I'm waiting to see after the Rock n Roll long distance is something I really want to focus on. 

Goal 2: Run more trails. I mostly definitely want to dabble in trail running more.  I enjoy it so so much.

Goal 3: Run more with Jason. Jason truthfully gave me the push to want (and have the courage) to run distances longer then 5ks and 10ks. 

Goal 4: Travel to at least 2 different states and run!

Pretty basic, but realistic!

Hope every ones training is going well!!!!! Happy Running!

Weekly Work Out Recap 9/19-9/25

This week was an interesting week. Its like I couldn't get in-sync with my own schedule haha.

Monday: I enjoyed a night run with a co worker and her sister. Her sister is wanting to get back into the running game. We did about 2 mile around my neighbor hood. It was a nice recovery run after Sundays 11 miler. No cross training.

Tuesday: Rest. No track Tuesday My body was tired.


Wednesday: 7 Miles on the treadmill, no cross training or work outs. Wednesday was a busy day after those 7 miles.

Thursday: I wasn't able to get any runs or cross training in. It was just a crazy day at work, then after work is was Pizza night at Maars Pizza to benefit my sons school! YUMM

Friday: 2 mile run along the river walk. Unfortunately, the route we wanted to take was closed off, so we settled for a 2 miles around the Pearl Brewery! It was packed! ( popular place to grab drinks on an evening )

Saturday: I had plans to go to the gym before Austin, but the kids and Jason were gone. Soooo of course.... I go in mom mode and clean, do laundry, try and organize. I also had a wedding that morning for a dear friend (and fellow runner). I was honored to be able to do her hair!

I was so excited.. I forgot to take after pictures before putting her vial on lol. Her hair came out beautiful!!!

I know my Blog is geared towards running, but just as running is a huge passion of mine, so is styling hair. Especially for brides. <3 

Saturday Evening: Drove out to Austin, TX! I got to hang out with Kilter Fitness and a fellow Ragnar Ambassador for a wonderful evening of trail running! 

(Excuse these next few pictures, they are blurry, lol)

The path ended up being super narrow and twisty so I couldn't take pictures. But it was a blast!! As soon as the sun set , it got dark in there quick!! Just to add... my headlamp died. Just my luck. 

OH and of course.... we had Torchys Tacos <3 Oh so wonderful way to end a trail run!

Sunday: Well, I regret not getting up early and driving back out to Austin, I was exhausted... but I should have done it. I planned to get a run in with a few girls from Cibolo, but that didn't go as planned... I wont get into details. By the time I got back home, I received a text from Jason saying Elaina didn't feel well, so I flew to HEB to grab some essentials for her instead of going on a run. SO of course her not feeling good meant I wouldn't be returning to Austin for their evening Trail Run. ( Weather conditions weren't so swell out there)  Sunday was a bust, but thats okay. This week will be better! (I hope, haha, as we have another busy schedule ahead.) 

All in all a HUGE Thank you to Kilter Fitness for letting me join in. Everyone was so awesome and welcoming. 

https://www.facebook.com/KilterFitnessGym/?fref=ts

If you are ever in the Austin area, check them out! They have few social work outs and/or runs weekly!

Missing my Saturdays mornings with my Fleet Feet Crew, but Ill be there hopefully next week, Happy Running this week!!! 

Ragnar Hill Country Count Down: Week 1

In 4 Weeks I will be running with my team in an amazing over night Trail journey!! (So excited!)

Here is a small recap of my Ragnar Austin earlier this year:

So glad I can call these awesome group my friends, and cant wait to share more adventures with them!!

BUT lets get down to business. My training season has mainly been consumed with marathon training.... which kind of helps me because Im heading towards higher millage now. This weekend I'm meeting up with some fellow Ragnar Ambassadors out in Austin for a mini Trail series. (there will of course be a full recap of that awesomeness!) Ill only be able to do the Saturday evening and Sunday evening. Lots of driving and too much of an early morning if I were to drive back to Austin Sunday morning.

I will catch a 4 -6 mile run with my Cibolo girls Sunday morning! :D

I'm keep my weekend miles what I would my long run. (13 miles)

I've never trained for two long distance races at once, so I'm basically listening to my body right now. I'm hopeing these next few weeks I can split up my miles and get some back to back runs in. My plan for the next three weeks is to maintain the miles my coach gives me, but split them up to help train for Ragnar.

Im sure it sounds crazy and messy and confusing... but in my mind, it some how makes sense! haha. 

Ill still keep one day a week for some speed training and of course cross train. Cross training really does help me!! 

I have a whole list of items to start packing and gathering. Most everything I have ( Jason and I enjoy camping every now and then).

Its getting real! Ragnar, Marathon Training and really setting goals out for next year. 

Ill make a blog every week until Ragnar. Lets see how this training goes, let hope my body feels good!

My crafty-ness!! Everyone will get one of these at the Trail Meet up this weekend!

HAPPY RUNNING! <3 <3

Weekly Workout Recap 9/12/16 - 9/18/16

This past week was just a crazy busy week! Working, training, and my sons birthday!!

Monday: 5 mile run on the treadmill, and a light Shoulder circuit. ( I didn't get to finish because child watch called me for my daughter at the gym #momlife.)
Shoulder Circuit: (I normally do this 4-5 times)
Dummbell Lateral Raises ( 10-12 reps)
Dumbbell Front Raises (8-10 reps)
Overhead Dummbell Press (6-8 reps)
I repeat this sequence about 4-5 times depending on how I feel after my run. I take about a 20 - 30 second rest in between each set.
After I got home, I foam rolled!

Tuesday: Track Tuesday!!!! I'm not sure if I was tired, still recovering from my long run on Saturday or my body just wasn't feeling speed training that morning, but it wasn't my best speed work session. (I'm okay with that because hey, I still got a run in!)
But I did 400m hard run with 200m of recovery. I probably went about 85% with my hard run.
I only did it 4 times, instread of the 6-8 times planned... I then just lapped around the track twice.
BUT a big thank you to my good friend Helen for getting up super early to run. <3

SOOOO early!

Wednesday: Cross training on the Elliptical. My legs felt so tense and tight on Tuesday. Going on the elliptical always helps me loosen up some. I did 30 minutes on there then did some bicep work!!
Cable curls 10x 3, barball curls 10x 3, and hammer curls 10x3. my weight is normally about 20lbs.

Thursday: Rest. lol. Just felt like resting.

Friday: Well, for starters.... my baby boy turned 4!!!!

BITTER SWEET! 

We started out our Friday with a family run! Jason packed up the kids and the double jogger and we headed to the park to enjoy a hot, humid 3-4 mile run!
Jason pushed the double jogger because i'm training and he is sweet like that. He ended up doing about a 4 mile run. I did 3 miles, but I did a progressive run.
My splits were 9:51, 9:17, 9:13.

  We let the children run free after the run! They LOVE the park!

My son was running around and wouldn't stop for a picture!
We then continued the party at Green Acres. (mini golf, water wars with water balloon, bumper boats, games)

Saturday: Saturday was a BUSY BUSY day. Wedding in the morning, frosting cupcakes, cleaning, getting last minute party supplies and my sons party at the oh so lovely Chuck E. Cheese later that evening.
Saturday alone was a work out haha, A huge shout out to Jason because that mornings wedding couldn't have gone any crazier that it did. I ended up not getting home till after 1 when I planned to be home before noon!
But in the end, the day ended well with lots of pizza cupcakes and happy faces on the kids that came out to celebrate! I may not have ran on pavement, but I surely ran around Chuck E. Cheese! Hah!

Thats my grandma. Shes probably the coolest lady around!

In case anyone was wondering, my son choose a Spurs party, because we love our and believe in our Spurs. Ahhhhmen. haha. 

Sunday: Not going to lie, it was hard to get up and get out. I had 11 miles to dish out.
I traveled out to Cibolo to join a few friends on a run. It was beautiful, peaceful and a wonderful route.

I ran a total of 6 miles with Jennifer and Heather, then did my last 5 solo.

I felt great until I hit mile 8/9. The sun just peaked out enough and it got hot super quick!!

However, I tried a new fuel. UCAN. It works! Normally be mile 7, my stomach will growl and I'm just hungry. No matter how many chews, guus, gels, drinks.... I'm just flat out HUNGRY. 

UCAN definitely did the trick for me! YAY! haha. 

Sorry (but also not sorry) for the overload of pictures of my littles. This week was just crazy for us all! Hopefully everyone had a fabulous week! 

Weekly Workout Recap 9/5/16 - 9/11/16

Mondays are just going to work better for me haha, So Mondays will be my Weekly Workout Recap!!

MONDAY: Rest
TUESDAY: Rest
WEDNESDAY: Rest
I was still nursing my rolled ankle. I just wanted to be triple sure that I would have an injury free run on Saturday. So it was R.I.C.E. for 3 days.

THURSDAY:  I did two miles on the Elliptical and did a very light upper body workout.
Lat pull downs, Seated  Low Rows and Bent over barbell rows. ( I was mostly targeting my back)
I did that workout circut 3 times each with 10 reps and I choose to keep the weight on the lighter side.

FRIDAY: I did a 2 mile, slow feel good pace on the treadmill. Followed my 20 minutes of good stretching and foam rolling when I got home.

 SATURDAY: I wasn't shooting for my 9 miler..... I was going for just what felt best. Well, 9 miles actually felt great and my ankle didn't hurt at all!

My Bondi Bands (Instagram: @Bondi_bands) Grab bag came in to!!! Such a good Saturday!!!

SUNDAY: Just allowed my body to rest and soaked in my Sugar Mill Tea Tub and Bath Soak! (Instagram: @SugarMillScrubs)

Hope everyone had a great week!!!