random thoughts

• for some reason lately I've been thinking of why my marriage ended. I know the reasons, but I wonder why it didn't end earlier. I guess I kind of held out hope that things would change. that he would change. I wonder how different my life would be if it had ended earlier.
• I really hate how my life still revolves around my ex-husband and his schedule. 
• being unemployed sucks. I miss work. I still see other adults, so I don't crave that time...but I miss feeling useful and like I'm helping someone.
• boot camp makes me run at a better training pace. it makes me run slower, which frustrates me, but is good for me
• I think after the half marathon in October, I'll only be doing 5k's for awhile. I just won't have the time to put in.
• I went to see The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel today. awesome movie. go see it.
• I sometimes wonder if I'll ever date again. I had made a goal at the beginning of the year to go on 2-3 dates this year (went on one last year). five months into the year and no dates in sight. don't even expect any.  
• I'm coming up on almost 3 years of being on my own and while I don't know if I'll ever get married again, it'd be nice to have someone.
• sometimes I feel like I'm the only one who worries about the kids and making sure they have a good childhood.

monday menu

I am exhausted after the long weekend. Did intervals this morning and nearly wiped me out, hell, they did wipe me out. Ended up with a massive headache, but ibuprofen and caffeine are doing their job and keeping it from being too horrible.

best part of the morning (other than the post-run donut)? having my last interval be faster than the first one by almost 3 seconds. L (one of the fastest runners) ran two of my run intervals with me and she did the last one and busted my butt, but it was worth it.

I think I'm suffering from a tight left hamstring and left IT band issues. but its feeling better after running, stretching and some ice. will rinse and repeat a little later today.

on to the important stuff...FOOD!

Monday: some kind of grilled chicken, homemade mac n cheese, and forcing vegetables into my children
Tuesday: son #2's actual birthday, so they'll be having pizza with their dad
Wednesday: something quick, probably chicken nuggets since I have softball at 6:30
Thursday: fish with their dad
Friday/Saturday/Sunday: on my own, will probably try something either Margarita Grilled Chicken or Cheeseburger Salad...might invite friends over, because I'd rather cook for more than one person.


Running Schedule for the week, and if the pool opens in my development, some swimming will be tossed in here.

Monday: 8x320 (track we use is only 320m)
Tuesday: boot camp, 4 miles
Wednesday: rest
Thursday: boot camp, 4.5 miles
Friday: rest
Saturday: 5 miles
Sunday: 4 miles

long run and cross training

Saturday was supposed to be my long run. I had planned 6 miles, but ended up getting in just shy of 4. It was already about 70ish out when we started the run at 6am. yes, 0600. too early. My calves were hurting again a bit when we came back around to the running shop where we started and didn't want to push it too hard, especially since I had a hike planned for the morning still.

After my friend and I went back to her house, we changed into our hiking gear and ventured to Natural Bridge to hike with some of our other running friends (who hadn't run that morning, I think we're crazy). I think we ended up hiking about 6.5 miles, which made up for the 2 I missed earlier. It was so nice to get out onto the trails and hike. I am just starting to rekindle my love for being out in the woods. I'm looking forward to many more hikes in the near future.

orange leaf 800's

I skipped the tempo run on Wednesday, figured I should give my body a rest. I was thankful come Thursday. Went to boot camp in the morning, where I am beginning to think the instructor dreams up torture in his sleep. It was a good workout, but a little more difficult than Tuesday's.

Thursday evening, my local running group had an interval session planned with Orange Leaf frozen yogurt to follow. I was more in it for the frozen yogurt than anything else, ha! Basically, it was Yasso 800's, but renamed for the night. I had set my Garmin to run 800, recover 400. I was hoping to do between 6-8 intervals, but stopped after 4. With the warm up and cool down I think I got around 4.5 miles in total. It was horribly hot outside and I don't do well with the heat even when hydrated. Friday morning I was thankful that I had stopped. I started getting dizzy and almost couldn't stand up. I had to have my daughter get me water while I was lying on the couch. It was the weirdest feeling. My legs also cramped pretty bad after the run Thursday.

bootcamp and running schedule

So because of Krissie, I signed up for bootcamp thanks to a groupon. I was scared out of my mind. for the last year, I've really only done running. I don't lift weights. I don't do push ups/sit ups. Basically its running or nothing. I've known that I need to add in some cross training, but just haven't had the push to do it. Krissie and that groupon kicked me in the rear and got me towards that.

I had my initial consultation last week. He had me to a 5 minute practice boot camp and I was sore for about 2 days afterward. Which made me really nervous for the actual class which started today. I'll be going on Tuesdays and Thursdays for 6 weeks. However, it wasn't as bad as I thought. Thanks to all the running I've done, the cardio aspect wasn't a problem. The other stuff wasn't as hard. Planks are difficult for me. I have no abs to speak of (at least that I know of). But it was good to get out and do something different.

Schedule for this week:
Sunday- rest
Monday- 4 miles pushing 30+ lbs of child in stroller. It sucked. My pace sucked. However, when I uploaded Garmin info it showed that when I was running my pace was in my goal range.
Tuesday- boot camp (45 min), 4 mile run
Wednesday- possibly 40 minute tempo run
Thursday- boot camp (45 min), torture...I mean Yasso 800's. Most are doing 10 reps, I'll probably do 5-6.
Friday- Rest
Saturday- 6 mile run, hiking

Monday Menu (late)

Monday- had a picnic dinner with friends at a playground
Tuesday- kids requested chicken nuggets and fries with their dad
Wednesday- Creamy Garlic Pasta with chicken
Thursday- spaghetti with their dad
Friday- on my own
Saturday- Chili's with my best friends from nursing school
Sunday- son #2's birthday party, either pizza or cookout food

finally, an age group I'm faster than!

Monday- I attempted to run. It didn't happen, well I got 1.34 miles in before I had to stop. I think I'll have to drop my Monday runs and just exchange it for some sort of cross training, its too much.

Tuesday- 3.75 out Polo Club, which I kept my goal training pace that the McMillan calculator said I should based on my most recent 5k time. Averaged a 13:18 pace, I needed the slower run yesterday.

Today- went for a walk/run at son #2's school. at the end of each school year, they invite families to come walk/run the track with them during their regular gym time. I had a blast chasing down kindergarteners, then walking with them. I am faster than a kindergartener. go me! when I got home, did my regular intervals, but halved it because I'd already put in a mile at the school. my Garmin didn't kick in for some reason until nearly the end of my first rest interval, so it missed the whole first set. thankfully RunKeeper (used it to tell me when to run/walk) tracked that first one. it said I was booking it in a 6:22 pace. went 400m in 1:37. holy crap. wish the Garmin had caught that as well. I didn't think I was going that fast. The rest of them were more in my goal pace of 10ish/mile.

Softball tonight. here's hoping we don't get slaughtered again.