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A Fun and Productive Weekend

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7/11/11
8 miles easy / 1:17 / 9:37 avg pace

Let’s recap the weekend!  Friday night was my friend Wendy’s wedding.  She looked beautiful and her dress was amazing (it was so Wendy!).  The ceremony took place outside on this beautiful covered terrace.  It was perfect.

Here is Wendy getting ready to walk down the aisle…

She was a little emotional!

Back view of her dress…

The food was awesome:  mini cheeseburgers and a mashed potato bar?!  I can’t think of a better way to refuel after 20 miles.

Group shot:  Sheryl, Wendy, and me.  Not sure why we are all squatting down (especially me).

Saturday was my first weekend home in awhile and I was prepared to tackle some of my to-do list.  Matt has been asking me for some time to go through all my pictures (pre-digital age…about 3 1/2 boxes worth) and trash/consolidate.  We live in a small house so the less boxes lying around, the better.  This took all day.  And I’m not even finished.  I separated everything into piles based on time but I still need to organize more before placing them in storage boxes.  I got rid of 3 garbage bags worth of pictures.  Who needs that many pictures of your senior prom?  I also got to relive how much fun I had in college 🙂

This is the treadmill's purpose during the summer months

On Sunday I had a 8 mile tempo run planned with 5 miles at 8:00 pace.  I’ve been doing my tempo runs on a shaded trail so my Garmin is always a little off; it often tells me I am running faster than I am.  It’s difficult for me to accurately track my pace so I just aim to run in the “comfortably hard” tempo zone.

image

I got back to my car and took a peek at my times.  Holy crap!  That was comfortably hard?!  I finally found my groove and hit my pace on laps 5 and 6.  I obviously need to reign myself in more and control my pace but I do love to see progress!

Lehigh Valley Marathon: Week 5 Recap

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7/6/11
7 miles easy / 1:07 / 9:34 avg pace

Week 5 went surprisingly well, especially after a weekend of bachelorette festivities.  The lack of sleep did me in and I practically dragged myself out of bed for each run.  But, as always, once I got moving I was fine.

MON:  6 miles speed
TUE:  6 miles tempo
WED:  8 miles easy
THU:  rest
FRI:  18 miles (so happy about this run!)
SAT:  4 easy miles at the shore
SUN:  rest

42 miles for the week (it’s a drop-back week).  I’m hoping to hit the big 5-0 this week.

So here’s a really random, so-not-related-to-this-post question:  when you wear running tights (or yoga pants), do you wear underwear?  I’ve gotten asked this question a few times (I don’t) and I have pretty strong feelings on this one.  First off, why would you?  I can’t think of anything more uncomfortable.  And unsightly.  I’ve been behind women in races and all I can see is panty lines.  If you do don the underwear, I would love to hear why!

Bachelorette Fun: Saturday Night

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6/28/11
6 miles tempo / 50:40 / 8:26 avg pace
*3 miles at 7:45 pace.  My actual times were 7:48, 7:57, and 7:57.  I struggled with the last 2 tempo miles.  I hate having to do 2 hard days back-to-back but I’ll be away this weekend so I had to get it done.  

As promised, here’s part II of our weekend!

Saturday started out perfect…with a 3-mile run in Avalon with Sara!  I’m training Sara and her 2 co-workers for the Philly Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon.  Sara is superwoman – works full-time, mom of 3 (oldest is 7!), and she’s training for her 4th half marathon.  This run is exactly what I needed after my 20-miler on Friday.  We had a great run and got to gawk at the many gorgeous homes along the water.

This isn't a hotel...this is someone's house!
I'll take it!
Post-run shot on the beach

We spent the majority of Saturday on the beach and sipping cocktails along the water.  Ahhhh…

Saturday night was more drinking and dancing…best described in pictures 🙂

The bachelorette all ready for a night at the shore!
Me and Jen
The Mains
And it was Trish's birthday! Cookie cake is the best.
Group shot (Trish is really enjoying her birthday!)

It was an awesome weekend and I can’t wait to do it all over again in 1 month at Amanda’s wedding!

Weekend Fun + Week 1 Recap

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6/6/11
7 miles tempo / 1:01 / 8:43 avg pace
1 mile easy, 5 miles at 8:35 (MP), 1 mile easy

Date day/night with Hawk was fun.  First up was a stop at Kelly Drive.

Yes, I really am this un-tan.  It’s not the camera flash.

Mr. Hawk seemed to enjoy himself.

Next we strolled around Philly and got some drinks.  Guess who we bumped into?  Mayor Nutter (a.k.a., mayor of Philly)!  He was checking out a menu with 2 other people (staff?).  Matt and I were across the street and one of his staff noticed I was holding my camera and waived us over for a picture.  Mayor Nutter is always present at all the Philly races so it was nice to meet him in person.  Of course, Hawk got in on the picture.

The rest of the day went unpictured:  dinner, trying to find a patch of grass for Hawk to use as a toilet, sleeping in, and brunch (pancakes for me, french toast for Matt).

Lehigh Valley Marathon – Week 1 Recap
MON:  5K + 1.5 mi warm-up
TUE:  8 mi tempo
WED:  rest
THU:  8 mi easy
FRI:  5.4 mi easy
SAT:  13 mi long
SUN:  rest

A total of 39 miles for the week.  Overall, I’m happy with how the week went.  I got some hill training in and did my tempo run on a trail.  I also like how I’m starting out at 39 miles, considering last cycle I maxed out at 43 miles 🙂  Fun, fun!

How was your weekend?  Any good races or training runs?  Are you tapering or just starting up like me?

Week 12 Recap

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3/27/11

8 miles tempo

1:08

8:30 avg pace

2 miles warm-up
5 tempo miles:  8:17, 8:02, 8:00, 8:09, 8:07 (on target:  training plan called for 5 miles @ 8:09 pace)
1 mile cool-down

I ran this with “Maximus” my neighbor.  I’m happy since these 5 miles were truly “comfortably hard” – the way tempo pace should feel.  I was still somewhat able to talk (although it seemed to take forever for me to get a sentence out).  Twelve weeks ago this pace wasn’t so comfortable and that is what makes me so happy.  Seeing progress is motivating!

Here’s what Week 12 of NJ Marathon training looked like:
MON:  rest
TUE:  7 miles speed
WED:  yoga (I have to confess that I was sore for the next 2 days after this class)
THU:  7 miles easy
FRI:  18 miles
SAT:  rest
SUN:  8 miles tempo

A total of 40 miles for the week.  I cannot believe I only have 2 weeks left of the Monster Month and then it’s taper time.  This training cycle has flown by.  This coming week I’ll be switching things around a bit since I’m running the Cherry Blossom 10-Miler next Sunday!  More on that in another post.

I feel like I haven’t posted pictures of Hawk in awhile.  He got a new Spring ‘do last week so why not show it off?!

Have great Sunday everyone!

Friday Favorites

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3/18/11

10.5 miles tempo

1:33

8:51 avg pace

1 mile warm-up and 9.5 miles at goal marathon pace (~8:45).  I’m happy to report that I stayed within +/- 5 seconds of GMP, even though my Garmin fluctuated for most of the run.  I got a “shorter” run on tap for tomorrow – only 15 miles.  Phew.  I need a break from those 20-milers sometimes.

Today’s edition of Friday Favorites can’t be called the food edition.  I don’t think what I’m about to list below qualifies as food.

Skinny Vanilla Lattes
I kicked my Diet Coke habit last December.  I thought this was nearly impossible since I had at least 1 Diet Coke a day since high school.  It has been surprisingly easy so far.  I don’t crave it at all.  I quit cold turkey too.  It wasn’t about giving up caffeine (hell no!); it was about giving up soda.  I do feel much better.  OK, so what does this have to do with Skinny Vanilla Lattes from Starbucks?  Well, there are my new obsession.  Kick one habit and replace it with another, right?  This habit is quite expensive though!  I’m trying to just stick with tea in the morning but SVLs are oh so good!

Ahhh!

Blizzards
From Dairy Queen of course!  I’ll take a Blizzard any day over a “real” dessert at a restaurant.  Oreo cookie dough?  Um, YES!  The mint oreo is also good.  The bad thing is we have a DQ so close to our house.  So tempting all the time.  Last year, I swear Matt and I kept that place in business.  I was embarrassed because I thought the employees recognized me.  Thank god I was running a lot because I’m sure I would have easily gained 10 lbs.

They had a BOGO week? How'd I miss that?!

Miller Lite
He he, I had to add this one.  I do love myself a cold beer.  Say what you want about ML (it’s a chick beer, blah, blah) but I love it!  Nothing is better that an ice cold ML after a long run (I don’t mean immediately after, com’on people, I mean later that night).  Delicious!

Keeping it classy on our wedding day

Have a great Friday!  I hope you are having warm temps like we are – it supposed to get up to 70 today 🙂