Shamrock Training: Week 7

I said at the start not all weeks would be winners ... this was the opposite of a winner. Let's get to business, or lack thereof!

Run #1 was a cold one. VERY cold. Pants. Ear covers. Gloves. TWO long sleeve shirts. This is unheard of for me. Sure I got warm, but that is a given with a run, but I never felt too warm. With two long sleeved shirts on??!!! Apparently Winter decided to arrive in Oregon for a couple of days. I did this run at my mom's house and actually this run was a pretty good one. The one downside was that I left my Garmin at home. If you know me, you know I can't function without my Garmin. So I ended up download some app on my phone to use for this one run, and then had to quickly import that data into Garmin Connect so I could feel "normal" again.

Run number two for this week will be covered with this adorable photo of a little girl. How does that work? Well, run number two didn't happen, thanks to snow and slippery roads. And also my lower retainer coming un-glued on one side and an unexpected trip to the dentist to bond it back down. My opening for a run just never really happened. It was only a 3 mile one, so I'm not worried in the least about missing it. I'd rather miss it than try to run and slip on ice in the shady spots of my route.

Finally, as if missing a run wasn't a fail, this final run of the week really made sure this wasn't a successful week - at least on paper. It was soooo cold and the rain was coming down harder than it has in a long time. But once it paused I was quickly out the door - again in two long sleeved shirts, knee socks this time, the ear warmers and gloves, and then this time a hat in case it rained again. My first loop out and back was pretty alright! The weather was gorgeous, and warmed up nearly to my favorite temperature of 43 degrees. I actually ended up too hot. At the turn around I had to shed the gloves, hat and top shirt. Back out I went, but then I had to pause. I was not feeling well. I started up again, and before I got too far I realized I HAD to turn and get home. I pretty much lost feeling of my body and couldn't focus enough to be sure I wouldn't fall and get hurt. Thank you, Meniere's Disease. So this was my scheduled "easy" rest week, and this run was only supposed to be 4 miles. I got in 2.5. I'm not at all worried about it in the long run. While I could run I was doing awesome, so I'm confident I will pick right back up with this next week of increasing distances. 

With regard to the race, I am so excited that my friend and I have decided to race it together. Years of friendship and doing the same races, but we have never even started one together. She might leave me in the dust, or she might have to hold me upright, who knows!?! But I am so excited and it is helping me keep my outlook positive when I have hard runs like the one I had today. Also, I have most of my race outfit ready. One piece is coming in the mail soon, and then I will find the last one - hopefully - before I get to Portland. Things are coming together!

Countdown to Race Day: 21 days 14 hours 12 minutes 

Shamrock Training: Week 6

With one month to go until the race, training is going pretty alright! But not all runs are great...

The first run was delayed. I was at work when a Meniere's attack hit me hard without any warning at all. My mom had to come pick me up because I couldn't even drive. This wasn't exactly how I planned to start my day when I was supposed to have the first run of the week. Still, I wasn't going to let myself get off track. So the next day, Valentine's Day, I was determined to get in my miles. Naturally, when I got home I was still all wobbly, but I didn't let it stop me. I did two out and back loops from my house, thinking that if something did happen or I needed to stop, at least I'd be close to home. This run was so hard!! Keeping steady was the easy part, it was my calves that were screaming in pain. I walked way more than I wanted to. But as usual, after the first 3 miles I loosened up and was in my groove. So I did have a good finish. Now if only I could get those first 3 to be easy, too! The foam roller was my friend at the end, ugh.

The second run of this week was the next day. I'd swear these legs that run this one were not the same that did the prior. I was on fire!! I have no idea what got into me, but I was flying through the whole thing. It was great. I finished with a big smile!

And lastly, the long run. Let's do a little refresher for anyone that doesn't know every tiny aspect of my life. In 2015 I was essentially told by all the doctors I worked with at OHSU that I was not allowed to run anymore. I could walk, and maybe add in a light jog and now and then, but no more running. Any races I had I either had to cancel or drop the distance down to a 5K or 10K. All of that led to being pregnant, and then having a baby and life being all switched up. All that goes to say that I am finally back to building up to my standard long distance runs. And this particular run was the longest training run I've had since before IVF started! And how was it? Pretty darn good! I got to run in SNOW!! I called it my "Lightspeed to Endor" run because the snow mixed with strong winds - well, it was like Star Wars was happening right in front of me! This was a run that required bundling. I had gloves, my warmest running skirt/pants combo, knee high compression socks, an ear warmer, hat and TWO long sleeved shirts. TWO!! Sometimes I'll do a short and long, or a tank top under a long, but two long? This is unheard of for me!

So anyway, that was a fun end to the week. Things got all shifted around on my schedule, but they all got done and I'm super happy about that!

Countdown to Race Day:  26 days 18 hours 58 minutes

Shamrock Training: Week 5

This was quite a different week. I ran double the miles this week than I did last, and I loved it! So let's get down to business and wrap this up quickly.

Run #1 was up in Washington of all places. We were staying at the Great Wolf Lodge between Portland and Seattle. I had no idea what to expect for terrain and weather, so I was prepared for everything. And everything was perfect! I was up very early so I could run before it was time to start our day. It was flat as can be, which resulted in a very fast run. School kids were out waiting for the bus to pick them up, so that was something new for me to experience. I'd say it was probably 43 degree out, which is my favorite for running. So all in all I was a pretty happy camper!

The next run was back in our normal home town, but I wasn't running at home. I had to push the stroller, so I went in to a close by neighborhood that had sidewalks ... and streetlights. As soon as I started running it started getting dark. I had no headlamp, so there were times it was a touch tricky - but I was always safe around cars since I was on the sidewalk and paying very close attention to all of my surroundings. It was kind of fun to do a night run again - haven't done that since Ragnar I don't think. 

And finally the "long" run of the week. I would normally do this on Saturday, but hosting our little girl's 2nd birthday party was far more important, so I had to shift the long run back again. Okay you guys, if you don't listen to Jo Koy's podcast the Koy Pond - you are missing out! It is so dang funny, and this particular episode really cracked me up. I couldn't even start running right away because I was nearly on the ground laughing. Once I did start I was still laughing out loud over it! But that all came to an end when I was grumbling about why on earth did I decide to do two out and back loops in my hilly neighborhood for my long run. Holy cow it was hard at times. I kept crossing paths with another runner which proved to be some inspiration and keep me going!

And now I am supposed to be running again today to start of week 6, but a sudden and mean Meniere's attack hit me at work and sent me home. So I'm down for the count tomorrow. I'm set to run tomorrow and do some tweaking so I won't get off my schedule!

Countdown to Race Day:  1 month 4 days 14 hours 51 minutes

Shamrock Training - Week 4

As predicted, this was an easy week. This was the calm week between the weeks where mileage really increases. Easy weeks mean nothing much to report on!

The first run was another lucky one where I left when the rain paused, and it never started up while I was running. Go me! Although I DO love to run in the rain, so this lucky streak I have is kind of taking away some of the fun. Oh well, nothing to complain about. That first run was at my house, my usual run from my house down to the horses and back. 

I had to take Katura with me on the second run, so we went to a different area where I don't have as many blind spots. In my area I can't push a stroller because there is no shoulder, and some places the visibility at the corners is pretty weak, which wouldn't give me or cars time to adjust enough for a stroller... or so this worrying mom thinks. So we go to a different place where there still isn't a shoulder, but there also isn't much traffic. On this one there is plenty of visibility except for on some of the smaller rolling hills - which I then try to do quickly to minimize time to encounter cars. So far everyone has been great and moved way over to allow us plenty of room. This is another route where we run to some different horses, turn and run back. Katura LOVES this route and pointing out all of the animals she sees as we go. That makes it even more fun for me!

Finally, the last run of this easy week. We did the same path with all of the animals, and this time go to see a lot of dogs, as well as those horses she likes to watch. On this one I learned I'm not the only one that uses a church as the parking spot for exercise. I encountered to women walking, and when I had view of the church on my return I saw them getting into the cars I had parked by. At least I'm not the only one borrowing the lot for fitness! 

That concludes week 4. Next week things really ramp up and I'll be running twice as many miles as I did this week. So excited!!

Countdown to Race Day:  1 month 14 days 15 hours 33 minutes