Week 6 done

Week 6 is coming to a close, only cross training for tomorrow left.  I ran 6 on Tuesday on the treadmill with 10 push-ups every 1/2 mile or so, I totaled 100 push-ups during that workout.  I swore that I was not going to use the treadmill for 6 miles again!  It is so hard to stay on that damn thing!  Thursday I left work at 4 promptly and thought I would hurry home in hopes I could be home by 430 and get a 6 in just finishing at dark!!!!!  Willie called at 4 and asked about dinner... I had nothing planned and no groceries this week so a trip to hannaford instead of getting home to run outside.  I got home about 445, because I needed at least 5-6 miles I knew if would be way too dark so down to the basement I go.  I managed 6 treadmill miles while watching breaking bad.  Nolan came down at like mile 3 so we switched to holes at that point.  I ran without push-ups and it sucked.  Honestly treadmill for 6 miles just is awful.  Today was my 10.  I drove to Newport and went to Stephs house to start our run.  It was so icy!!!! We slipped for the first 3 miles.  We had water at mile 3 and 6.5, the last mile was hard but I think working so hard the first 3 really set us up.  Next run will be 11 and I'm in hopes that our running duo will turn into a group if 3!!!!

Week 5 of 18

Well week 5 is done!!!! What a great week I have had.  With my 7 on Sunday ending week 4, I wondered how many days I would wait to do 6.  I ended up going for my 6 on Tuesday on the treadmill with 80 push-ups.  My only complaint was my hunger all day Wednesday :) I ate my lunch at like 10am then went to Walgreens with coupons and bought tons of candy.  9 candy bars, 3 bags of M&Ms and 2 easy macs!  My eyes were big as I only ate 1 candy bar and some M&Ms but I know were it all sits :). Thursday I had ACLS so I didn't have time to run and I knew snow was coming Friday so I would plan tread vs weather for Friday.  I  decided to work from home Friday  so I kept looking at the roads to decide if it would need to be a treadmill run.  Finally Willie said "stop staring out the window and just go" well he didn't have to twist my arm much because I dressed and out the door I went.  I had 5 screws on the bottom of each shoe for road traction.  At about 1/2 mile I felt a poke in my foot "ouch" a darn screw! Not enough to hurt but definitely enough to feel it.  What a messy run.....slush, snow, ice and no where to run if a car came!! I managed 2 miles in before I turned around afraid to get hit or fall.  Non the less the run felt great all 4 miles of it.  Stephanie and I decided that with another big storm coming Sunday we needed to do 8 at 8 on Saturday.  I drove and picked Steph up at 8 am then we headed to Nokomis high, the temp was about 15 degrees.  The run was great! We both felt good, water and gummies at mile 3.75 then we ran the rest with small stops for safety when we hit ice or no sidewalk to avoid traffic.  I am amazed how good the 8 felt, we paced about 11:05 which was ok due to the roads.  I finished my evening with some shoveling and 50 push-ups. Expecting 20 inches of snow tonight I will get my cross training in tomorrow outside  shoveling :)

Frozen Thighs!

Week 4 completed yesterday!  Week 4 was a schedule of 4, 5 and 7 however it did not go as planned.... My back was really hurting at the start of the week from doing squats, at least that is what I think caused it.  Tuesday I was finally able to move a little better and I did 50 push-ups and 2 planks 60 seconds each.  Wednesday I felt a little better and managed to go for a run on the treadmill 4 miles with 30 push-ups.  I felt good, I ended with a smoothy with the boys.  I decided to skip the cross training due to the slight back injury and spend time stretching.  Friday the boys went to the mountain and Willie and I went out to eat, it was nice to get out.  I felt like I should have run but knew I could go Saturday morning on the road and that was more appealing.  I went out Saturday morning and because my long run was the next day I only did 4.  When I got home I had enough time to shower and take the boys to the mountain then get my groceries.  Sunday was the long run for the week, I drove to Stephanie's house to pick her up and drive to Nokomis high where our run would start.  The drive to Stephs had me constantly watching the temperature go between -3 to 1 degree!  I honestly would usually only run if it is at least 10 degrees so I was nervous.  I wore a t shirt tucked in, a long sleeve t shirt, my purple 8 shirt, gloves and a neck up.  We got to the school and headed out... It was actually peaceful, I wore my neck up over my mouth off a bit, we talked non stop about the temperature and how "we were ok". Our pace was right around 10mm and it felt good.  At around mile 3 my thighs really were hurting with cold, I run them some but it was cold!!! We had water waiting at mile 4 and some gummies to eat. We walked briefly to drink water about .2 of a mile.  Running felt better then walking because it was chilly!  At mile 6 a big hill started and honestly if felt like I was running in place, my thighs were so cold and I couldn't feel them, my body decided I needed to walk, we walked briskly for like .2 again then ran up the hill to finish the 7 miles!!!!! Our talking stopped about mile 6 too :). I went in Stephs house and met her adorable boys and her husband Steve.  Her boys made my heart smile thinking of when mine were little like that!! She drove me to my car and I drove home.  Today the day after our run my thighs are sore to touch like a wind burn, they are not red but definitely next time I might wear biking shorts too! We finished 7 miles at 1 hour 15 1/2 minutes.

"I run for those who can't, I run because I can"

I have completed week 3. My work week was busy of course.  This week I started a pilot program at work called the patient/family portal, if will be easy after it is all set up, I had a total of 3 hours in GoTo meetings on it.  I also started monitoring core measure on Sound Connect 2.0, of course I don't trust it so I did paper and computer.  Tuesday morning I started my list of dedicated miles.... I decided that for every mile I would dedicate it to an individual who inspires me.  "I run for those who can't, I run because I can" my verse to think of at each mile.  I decided that if I actually wanted to use some people to inspire me and to remind me of the gift I have to run, I need to tell them.  I talked to a gentleman who has fought with a panus issue for as long as if remember, he walked leaning back trying to "knee" the weight forward, truely sad! He had lost weight and was to undergo surgery on Wednesday to remove almost 150 lb from his front!  Truely inspiring to think he will start a new life! I told him what I was doing and how a mile would be his as I think of him and remind myself the gift I have and to fight as he has, he cried.  I told Willie that night too that I picked  the last mile for him.  I explained through tears that he gets the last mile because I would never quit  without a mile for him.  Tuesday night I went to dinner with work people at a fancy place in Bangor, I told many about my marathon, I may have inspired a few too:). Wednesday was my 6 miles on the treadmill, I don't remember how it went to be honest.  Friday was 4 on the treadmill with 80 push-ups, happy to say that the month ended with 500 push-ups!! I love the evenness and I didn't even plan on it :)
Saturday was my 6 on the road, it was sunny for the first time in weeks! The road was clear and I ran to homestead lane, stopping just to turn around and head back.  Today I was planning on Jillian Michaels but my back hurts so so bad!! I can't bend over, barely walk.  I don't know why my back hurts but felt as long as my runs are in I will not sweat over it.  I'm using heat and I took Zyrtec to take 400 mg of ibuprofen, got a few hives but it feels like I needed ibruptofen.  Bring on week 4!! I think I have like 11 miles assigned so far. January ended with 50 miles, 500 push-ups (girl) 30 burpees and 30 squats.