Cori - Ending Week 3 and Feeling Feisty, So BACK OFF.

This is going to be a bitchy, complaining post, so skip it if you want.

Fri -- L7
Sat -- Off
Sun --SL4
Mon -- Off
Tues -- EFX 40 min, weights 20 min
Wed -- L8 (Had to get a jump on week 4 for scheduling reasons)
Thurs -- Off

Weight: 143.

The runs were all hard this week, solely due to fatigue caused by the heat and humidity. I cannot emphasize enough how hard a run can feel when it is this hot and humid out. But I don't want to run on the treadmill. I hate the treadmill so much that I would rather tough out the heat. I have a really hard time keeping a good running form on the treadmill, and if I don't watch my form closely, my ITBs act up. However, I did find a Y with an indoor, suspended track, and if it gets any hotter I may just have to go. Here's the problem: 1 mile = 12 laps. Yeah. So next week I would be looking at 120 laps. Anyone else see the problem here? I would feel like a hamster on a wheel.
Now that I have griped about the heat and humidity, let me be a hypocrite for a minute. I am SICK to death of people telling me that it is too dangerous to run, or that we are foolish for running.
Really? And you know this because you work out how often? I have yet to be lectured by anyone who works out on a regular basis.
I am a mother. I have three little children who need me home every single night. Do you think I would endanger myself at their expense for my little hobby? I am also a nurse. Do you think I cannot recognize when I am dehydrated and/or getting overheated? Or is it that I am just too foolish, and you will show me the light?
The assumptions that we are too stupid to know when to quit are offensive, and it is pissing me off. Heaven help the next person who goes there.
And to the instructor at the Y this morning who was so worried about Jen and I because we were running slow and our faces were beet red.... We turn red because we don't sweat much. We are pale and freckley girls. And we're slow because we DO know our limits, and up that incredible hill (twice), in the sun, when it's 85*, was a bit much. But chick, we are serious, we have endurance, and we could run forever if we had to.
So, worry about someone else. We are tougher than we look.

Traci - Week #3

Week three was much better than week 2. Kind of. It started out with a L7, which I felt great the entire time. However, it ended with a L8... on the hottest and most humid day of summer. Yes. But, even though it was one of the harder things I've done in life, it was really kind of rewarding. I kinda feel like if we can run 8 miles in those conditions, we can surely triple that mileage when it is 30 degrees cooler and on a flat road. That's the plan right now anyway. I have to remember to keep invisioning myself succeeding. It is really easy to get caught up in the trap of negativity. My mind goes into "I'll never be able to do this" mode each and every time I run. But, so far, every time I've said that, I've been able to do it.

I did a little bit of weights for crosstraining this week and really focused on at least 80 ounces of water a day. Tomorrow I'm going to swim for 30 minutes in lieu of my R3. Then I'm off to the lake for the weekend, which does not bring good things my way in the shape of exercise. Or weight loss. But, soon enough, summer will be over and I'll be wishin' I was lazily sitting at the lake gaining weight. So, off I go, with hourly glimpses of the L10 next week. Oh, good times.

Oh yeah, and even though the weight loss is slow (actually non-existent), I have managed to lose 1 1/4 inches (now 31 3/4) under my belly button, and 1/2 and inch (now 30) around my waist. I'll take it... for now. :)

Jen Week 3

Whew I made it another week! My body is mad, pissed, annoyed that I am treating it so badly, my legs are screaming at me after last nights 8 miler. It was a hard run for me, my legs felt like lead around mile 5 and really didn't think I could make it but... I did. I get so discouraged at my body for not being able to push through at times and the amount of time it takes me to recover. However, I am trying to be kind and forgiving for the healthy body I do have, considering I have already completed one (Amelia) marathon this year.

Sat/Sun OFF
Monday Swim 1500
Tuesday Weights
Weds 8 mile
Thurs OFF
Friday Ride and Run

Cori --- Hello Heat Advisory....

Tonight was a humbling experience.
It was possibly the hottest, most humid day we have had all summer.....and it was time for L8. Crap.
We waited until almost 9pm. I am not going to lie. It was MISERABLE. We all had a "I want to quit" moment. Luckily, not at the same time. That's the beauty of running in a group---there is usually one voice of reason, or insanity, depending on how you look at it.
But we did it. And I am really, really proud of us.
It took us 1:36, a 12 min/mile. But we walked a couple of times, so considering that, I am okay with that time. The heat was oppressive. Matter of fact, we tried to reschedule, but nothing else was working out. So we just decided to suck it up and give it a go, and if we couldn't do it, oh well!
I have NO idea how we are going to pull off 26.2 miles. None. I get scared if I think about it too much, so I don't. But I have found that pocket, deep down in my soul, that can always find a little more to give when I want to quit, and I think that's where the secret lies. And I have to admit, if I were doing this alone it would be sooo tempting to quit. But peer pressure can be a good thing sometimes. The problem with that pocket is that right now I am having to reach down into it at 5, 6, and 7 miles.......I don't think it's deep enough yet. That's what training is for, right? Can you believe that next week our schedule already jumps to L10? Where in the heck did that come from? 10 miles? Are you kidding me?
On the pollyanna side, I am seriously grateful to be doing this. My legs are holding up. I did not know if this would even be possible. Thank you, God, for a healthy body. It's a gift. And no matter how much whining I do, I never forget that it's a gift. And it makes me feel really good to push my limits.

Cori --- A Piece to the Puzzle

I have an answer to the ever illusive, "Why do my IT Bands hurt some days for no real reason?" question.
This was frustrating me because it doesn't matter how much I stretch, or how far we run, or even how hilly/flat the run is.
The one thing I had noticed is that the better hydrated I am, the less likely it is to happen.
Tonight I figured it out. It's the humidity.
When the weather is humid, my legs swell just a tad, but it's enough to aggravate those ITBs.
This is good news. I don't think Chicago will be too humid in October.
But bad news for training in Kansas during July and August.
Hmmm.
Good times, this training.......good times.

Cori --- Fragile! Handle with Care.

Jen and I have invented a disease, and we both have it.
It's called Glass Mommy syndrome. We are scared of "breaking".
We have discovered that since we started training, we are scared to death of getting hurt while doing anything but running.
Wrestling with the kids? Negative, Mommy might pull a muscle.
Bouncing up and down on a stationery bike at Ride 'n' Run class? Negative, Mommy might bruise her tailbone.
And now, I have to banish my favorite pseudo-crocs. (I can wear crocs without being a dork because I am in health care.) I have this fake pair that are navy blue, and I love them. But I almost slipped, not once, but three times this weekend. And by almost, I mean I skidded and caught myself before I hit the ground. I am an accident waiting to happen.
Goodbye fake crocs. I will only be wearing shoes with really good tread for the next 90 days.
I am not putting myself through ALL OF THIS, just so I can slip on the cement at Quik Trip and end up with a broken ankle.....

Jen Week 2

Fri 6 miles
Saturday & Sunday Off
Mon 4 miles on the EFX
Tues Ran 3
Weds Ride and Run
Thurs Off
Friday L7

No change with weight/measurements but feeling stronger. Looking forward to treating myself this week to a new pair of shoes at Garry's, whoo hoo!