Traci - Lifeline

We are getting into the mileage now that it is really hard to always have water. Cori told me when she started this whole thing that she's either going to have to get a water belt or a Camelbak. Genius, I tell ya. If we start running long runs on trails, we won't be able to drive around first and drop water every 1.5 - 2 miles like we are used to. So, I went shopping. I personally didn't think I could do the water belt. I had it on empty and it just felt so heavy, bulky and in my way. I was going to get a water belt and a reflector vest. However, that combination was going to cost me about $70 (at Dick's, not online). Then I saw the Camelbaks. Low and behold they had one that held 50 oz. of water and had reflectors on it. All for only $38 (by the way, you can get it online for $25). Sold. Well, I was sold until I got home and started freaking out about actually using it. What if it felt to heavy on my back? What if it made me way too hot? What if my arms rubbed on it and caused chafing? I was scared to death to take the tags off. But 10 minutes before our run last night I decided I needed to try something, because I refused to carry a water bottle in my hand anymore.

My overall rating is 4 out of 5 stars. The only reason I would knock it a star is because I ran out of water around mile 7 or 8. But, I learned that I just need to wet my throat a few less times and to try harder to fill it all the way before the run. I probably didn't start with 50 oz. At first my back felt really hot with it on. But that went away after about the first mile, when the rest of me was equally as hot and it didn't stand out. It was really light weight and comfortable. I also like that it has a pocket for keys, gu, etc. I think next time I'm going to stick a Capri Sun or two in there too. I'm really pleased with my purchase, but I still need to figure out how to have enough water to make it through 12-20 miles. Any thoughts?

Traci - Week #5

I have to say that this is a weird week for me. I am actually desperately looking forward to our L11 tomorrow night. My glass is always half empty when it comes to long runs. I don't love them. However, this has been such a stressful week that I'm ready to sweat it all out, gab it all out, and RUN it all out! Talk to me tomorrow night and I'll probably have some different thoughts, but for now, I'm ready.

Once again I did not do my recovery run... and I didn't cross train at all this week. The closest I got was today. I was going to swim 1000m again and I jumped in the pool, got 3/4 of the way down the lane, and they blew the whistles because of the storms. So instead I sat in the super, duper, HOT, very mentholy steam room. I feel like I have a chest cold and surely this wouldn't hurt matters. Other than the fact that I get slightly claustrophobic and can't breath in there, it was quite nice. :)

Overall, it was a pretty quiet week for training. We ran 5 Tuesday night and I felt great. Hope I feel like that tomorrow night!

And, last, but not least, I was down to 137.2 lbs this morning!! It's about freaking time that scale moves!

Cori --- Where's all my soul sisters?

Okay, all of the posts from my whimsical/gangsta friends' music collections are really making me giggle. Mainly because I have an iPod disease, also.
I would never hand my iPod over to a stranger, because these are the thoughts that I imagine would run through their heads upon listening to it:

"Really, white suburban mommy?"

"Who wants to tell the 35 year-old chick that it is no longer 1993?"

"Even in 1988, this song was not cool."

It's like I am scared that they can see into my head. But Nickie conveyed my feelings very well. When I'm in my car, my music choices are K-Love (Christian) and Country. But throw me in some running shorts, and it's like I change personas. I am no longer the wife/mommy/nurse/lovely Christian woman.
I am a bad ass.
I do the "Wazzup?" nod at people who run by me. I am Tough. I am ....cracking myself up.
In other words, I pretend that I'm not running home to ice my legs and then nuke chicken nuggets for my kids' lunch.

Here. Now you can laugh at me:

Mama Said Knock You Out. (You should hear my "Don't call it a comeback...")

Glamorous Life. (Oh, there are just no excuses for the love I have for this song.)

St. Elmo's Fire. (Doesn't everyone have a song that makes them tear up on the last mile? Best line..."Burnin' Up, Don't know just how far that I can go. Soon be home, Only just a few miles down the road." Oh, never mind.)

Right Now. (Because what is exercise without an 80s hair band song?)

Stronger. (I HATE that I like a Kanye West song.)

Get Back Up Again. (Finally, a song from K-Love. This is one of those life anthem songs. Love some Toby Mac.)

Let's Go Crazy. (If you know me, there is no need to explain. It's Prince.)

Lady Marmalade. (Soul sister....girl power....(sigh)...more embarrassment.)

I'm Free. (Because no cheesy collection is really complete until you throw in Kenny Loggins.)

And now, I have embarrassed myself (and my husband) enough.

By the way, let the record show that my kids are thoroughly enjoying these tunes. That's right, I broke them.

Cori --- Struck Down but not Destroyed.

Week 4---Not my favorite week...

Friday: Ride n Run
Saturday: Off
Sunday : SL5
Monday: Off
Tuesday: Weights
Wednesday: R4
Thursday: L10

Measurements:
Hip: 39.25 (Down .75")
Waist: 30 (Down 1")
Calf: 14.5 (Up .25")
Bust: 37 (Same)
Thigh: 22 (Down .5")
Arm: 11.5 (Down .5")

Wt: 145 (Up 1.5 from last week)

Rough week. I am having a lot of trouble staying motivated to eat less food. I am still eating healthily 90% of the time, but as soon as my mileage increased, so did my appetite. I crave meat and salt. My weight inching up, even a little, really bothers me. My measurements going down offset the depression a little, but I need to recommit to giving 100%. Maybe some of the weight is muscle/fluid? Who knows...
L10 was not good today either. To make a long story short, my right IT Band shut me down today. I ran about 3.5mi, started having pain, and then stupidly insisted on pushing myself when I probably should have gone home and tried it another day. I made it until 8.5mi, and then I knew I had entered the "do I want to be seriously injured" zone. I walked the last 1.5mi.
I have come up with a plan to deal with my minor irritation----not willing to call it a setback yet.

Contributing Factors:
1. We ran a very hilly 6 miles to start out. It wasn't intentional, we just live around some decent inclines. Ironically enough, it is the exact same location that I got hurt last time. I told Traci that I am NEVER running that stretch again. It was only the 2nd time I have ever run it, and so far I'm two for two.
2. I ran 4 miles yesterday, at a 10min/mile pace. I don't usually run back to back days. I also don't usually run that fast---not since last fall.
3. I haven't been ice-ing or using my foam roller the last two weeks. I felt so good that I just didn't bother.

How To Recover:
1. Ice 4 - 5 times a day.
2. Ibuprofen every 6 -8 hrs for 3 days.
3. Taking a break until Monday morning.
4. If I still am having issues after that, I will just be in the pool for a couple of weeks: aqua jogging, lap swimming.....as long as the time in the pool matches the time I would have spent running, it will still keep me in line with my training.
5. Pray.
I am not happy, but not freaked out either. It is what it is. I hate to jinx myself, but I think I'll be fine. I just need to get back in the game mentally.

Traci - Week #4

I'm so confused on what week I'm on. I like to end my weeks with my long run (usually around Friday). So, I guess I finished week #4 today with a 10 mile run. It's so crazy to me that I have only ran 10 miles one other time and 13.1 miles one time and THIS 10 miles I just ran barely even puts a dent in our training schedule. On a good note though, I just accomplished the halfway mark of our maximum training (20 miles). Could I do double what I did this morning at 5am? Only time will tell. Right now I feel like there is no way in hell. But, each time I run, I am somehow able to pull it out. Someone asked me today if I feel good when I run or if I hurt the whole time. I definitely don't feel good at any point in time, but I don't hurt the entire time either. Let's just say I struggle to be comfortable.

Here's how my week played out:
Sunday - 5 miles
Monday & Tuesday - off (had great intentions of doing our L10 Tuesday night, but the lightning never let down).
Wednesday - mowed my lawn and considered it crosstraining (see below)
Thursday - 10 miles
Friday (plan) - swim 1000m

Dork alert! I wore my Garmin watch last night while I mowed the lawn. Hey, I wanted to see how far I actually walk. Back and forth, back and forth. And... it was a grand total of 1.76 miles and 46 minutes of pushing a mower, drenched in sweat. Yes, I do consider that crosstraining! :)

I'm at work right now, so I'll have to measure myself when I get home. But, I am happy to say that I am down about 3/4 of a pound since we started this thing. To many, that is absolutely nothing. However, since I have either been gaining weight or staying the same for the last 4 weeks, I WILL TAKE IT!

Jen- Music Moves the Soul

Started the day with butterflies in my stomach knowing that I was planning on doing my 10 miles today, on the treadmill..ALONE! As I drove to the Y I was scared considering last weeks 8 miler was hell and left me with a bad ATTITUDE. I needed a confidence booster in a big way. Playing out all the scenarios on what I would do to fill my 2 hours of time, talk with friends, listen to music, text my husband and watch TV. All of that planning and I only needed one today..ah music. I usually don't run with my I-Pod but today it was an awesome running partner, it motivated me through my entire workout and I want to share some of those songs that helped me along the way.

The run felt great finished in an hour and 47 mins. Mile 1-5 awesome but as the 2nd half started so did the sore legs but this song came across my play list, it reminds me of my dad. He was one of the reasons I ran my first marathon more on that later

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_-lh8GoGQs

Mile 7 feeling it but managed to run the next two miles at 9:45 pace thanks to these great songs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aTYp8-O96M
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kh239PTyuYE

Done! I did it I was so happy and proud of myself that I actually cried in the YMCA haha and then finally
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bawPIjdGCKo

I am so grateful for this journey! I was so happy that I marched myself to McDee's and rewarded myself with a big mac..oh happy days :)

Cori --- Feeling Philosophical...and I Can't Sleep Either...

So I had an epiphany tonight.
I have felt surprise lately, because I think that on some level I expected training to get easier.
Not that I expected our long runs to ever feel easy, but I think that I did expect the recovery runs and the semi-long runs to feel easier just because they were less mileage. I didn't expect to have that "I want to quit" sensation at mile 3 on an SL5.
So I thought a lot about this today, and I have found a solution. My motto in life has always (unconsciously) been: If you can't change your circumstances, change your feelings about them. Well, I want to do this run. So I am just going to quit expecting it to get easier.
It's hard because it is, and nothing will change that.
And I need to just expect to wake up feeling like an 80 year-old woman everyday, wondering what hurts, where I can rub my biofreeze, and how much ibuprofen I can safely take without giving myself an ulcer.
It is what it is.
And deep down I really love this or I wouldn't be doing it.
That's what I will be telling myself when I run L10 with a heat index of 110 this week.
Blecch.