Cross training/circuit training

My current crosstraining/circuit training plan, I do include weights for some activities, which has some crossfit stuff in it:

Heading into week 5 of marathon training #2

I have completed 4 weeks of training for my second marathon and things definitely feel different this time already.

• I'm running my long runs much much earlier in the morning since it is summertime that's a must to beat the heat and humidity.

•  I'm running everyday plus cross training 3 days a week, no slacking this time like the first time around.

• On my short runs (2 miles or less) my daughter (in particular) is running with me, which means I run at her pace and help her work on form and techniques, which in return helps me with my form and techniques because I'm force to think about how I'm running in order to teach her properly.

• Playing around the run/walk ratio to find what is going to work for the longer distances and still amazed that my pace has increased on every long run no matter where I'm in my monthly cycle.

• Helping/kind of coaching my husband and one of my friends has really help me enjoy running more because I get to be apart of their journey in training for their 1st half marathon.

• Finding shoes now that I have lost 14 lbs has been a challenge but, know it is necessary.

• The balance of training, homeschooling, working, and being wife/mom will always be a juggling act but, this time around seems to be a little easier and I honestly believe because I'm involving the kids into the training.

• Still trying to figure out the nutrition piece of the puzzle, definitely have been better about it.  I know that 2 days before a long run, I like to eat red meat with potatoes and streamed green veggies, the night before a long run I like to eat a chicken stir fry meal (boiled/shredded chicken, cooked rice, sweet/green peppers, mushrooms, onions, minced garlic, and topped with honey mustard dressing). 

• Hydrating is so important but, the right hydration too.  For long runs it is one 10.5 oz bottle of water and one 10.5 oz bottle of watered down Gatorade.

• Knowing that this training plan is shorter by 2 weeks worried me at the beginning but now, that I'm on week 5 I'm ok with it because I know my body is capable of it.

• Sleep well 2 nights before a long run seems to be more important than night before the long run.

• Adding different surfaces/type of workouts that were out of my comfort zone this time (ie groomed trails, track, hills, speed work, etc).

• Stretching before and after runs are my friend

• Epsom salt baths and foam roller are my friends after long runs

• Reflecting back each week to see what worked and what didn't make adjustments for the next week.

finished with 1st grade

As of this morning, lil miss finished all of the curriculum that needed to cover for 1st grade.  The last 6 months has definitely had it ups and downs with lots of struggles because we were locked into certain timeline to cover curriculum that I really questioned daily.  Through some of the testing to see where she was for reading speed, reading comprehensive, and math comprehensive/abilities, I found that she is above average for reading comprehensive (86th percentile among 1st grade), reading speed is average (83 WCPM), and math comprehensive is above average (85th percentile).

Her abilities to apply the skills of reading as well as math in daily life has developed wonderfully over the last 6 months.  She is capable of reading at intermediate 2nd grade level with 75% comprehensive (which is about November benchmark in a public school).  Her spelling and grammar skills have vastly improved in the last 6 months.  She still struggles with her penmanship, which I have told her repeatedly that it will only improve with more practice.  We have decided to continue to homeschool at this point but, we are moving from 10 week marking periods to 12 week marking periods thus allowing us to homeschool year round as well as instruction time and more time for independent projects/writings/discoveries.  We are moving away from the Common Core Curriculum in that we feel that it in no way has benefit her or her education overall because it is expects young children to have abstract thinking skills without having concrete thinking skills mastered first.

I don't know what exactly how year is going to work quite yet but, we have a game plan and that's always the first step.

Days Following My Marathon

Knowing that I was going to start a running streak the day after my first full marathon did initially raise some red flags for me but, thankfully Bill suggested that I continued to move around (ie walk, stretch, etc) after the marathon on Sunday and as much as I just wanted to laid down go to sleep immediately after the race, I walked about 3 quarters to way to the van before I told that I really needed to stop and rest and to please go get the van.  After we got back to the hotel room, I told a fairly quick shower, put my compression socks on, we finished packing up everything up and headed back to Victor to get the kids from my dad & stepmom's house.  The ride there I kept my legs elevated as much as possible with being a vehicle, we stopped at rest stop to use the bathroom and get water, then after we got off the Thurway we stopped for pizza because I really wanted pizza and beer (didn't drink the beer until later though).  Got to my dad and stepmom's house, where we relaxed for a little bit, again I was moving around slowly and when I was sitting I had my legs elevated.  Our daughter got to watch the video of me crossing the finish line and thought it was awesome and amazing that her mommy completed a marathon and asked when could she run a 5K or kids' race again.  Packed them up and headed home, once home my body started feeling a tight and sore so, I took a Epsom salt bath for about 20 - 30 minutes, which definitely helped me because it loosen up muscles as well as soreness started to go away.  We ate dinner, kids went to bed, I fell asleep on the couch for a short time and Bill woke me up to go to bed.
I got the following day around 5 am because I was going to meeting up with some of MRTT mamas for short run to start the Memorial Day to Labor Day running streak.  I was expecting for my muscles to sore, tender, and tight but, surprisingly they weren't and I truly believe that because I use the run/walk method in my race the lactic acid didn't build up like it would have otherwise.  Plus, between continuing to move around, Epsom salt bath, stretching, and the compression socks/sleeves (I slept with sleeves on my calves).  So, I met up with the MRTT mamas, they were surprised that I was willing to attempt to run and what not, they allowed walking breaks because I didn't want to push it knowing it was day after.  I did 2.27 miles with them and then continued on with their run and I was satisfied with the short run.  Came home started pushing the water, carbs, and protein for food/drink as well as doing other household chores and continuing stretch and move slowly as needed.
Tuesday morning, my body was feeling a little sore, tender, tight than Monday morning but, again I stretch continued to move around slowly pushed the fluids.  Tuesday afternoon, I was feeling a bit tired so I was listening to my body when I went for my run in take slow and easy, which I did.  Stretched after the run and pushed the fluids until bedtimes.
Wednesday morning, my body was feeling back to normal, no soreness anymore, I still felt like I should stretch and pushed the fluids to help, just in case.  I decided that I was only to try to do a mile run because I'm still in my recovery week and I don't want to push it too far too quick.  I ended up doing 1.26 miles in 11:12 (8:55 pace), my body felt good so I went with it.
Today, I'm day 4 of my running streak and I do feel a bit tired this morning so, I'm listening to my body in that I will do a slow and easy 1 mile run this afternoon plus, some stretching and Epsom salt bath before bed tonight.
The biggest things I'm learning or have learned thus far, that in the end it is my journey ever changing as it, listening my body, knowing my cycle (keeping a journal about it), and stretching.  Would I suggest this method to everyone, absolutely NOT but, it is working for me and I own that.

Marathon Day!

My day started at 4:15 this morning and feel good even though, I knew that I was entering into the part of my cycle that tends to make a bit more to run. I had breakfast (oatmeal, banana, cranberries, and almond milk) as well as some coffee and vitamins then got dressed.  We the hotel around 5:45 we thought that would be early enough not so much though, we got to the Convention Center at 6:30 due to the traffic.  Met up with one of following Rochester MRTT mamas and her sister for some pictures.  Walked up the started area, gave Bill a kiss and a kiss for luck, enter the race start by 6:50, it was very, very crowded because half marathon, marathon, and marathon relay were all starting together at 7 am.  At 7 am, the gun went off but, it was so crowded that it took 3 mins 16 seconds before I crossed the start line so, at 7:03 I was off for my first marathon.  At 6.2 miles I tweeted that I finished 10K and I took some Hammer Gel.  For first 10 miles or so, I enjoyed reading the signs listening to the cheers, I felt great.  We were the shoreline and there was a camera for the runners to smile, cheer, whatever it was livestream cast, which was awesome!  I must have really caught up in the excitement around the 13 miles because I missed about half of my walk time for walk interval figured, it would be fine to just take 30 seconds of walking.  Still feeling great and really enjoying the entire atmosphere of the race it was electric and I love it.  Around 15 mile, I thought maybe I should grab the BioFreeze or Gatorade or some water (I didn't realize how low I was starting to run on water) but, decided that I would be ok because it was just starting to feel warm so, I thought I would be fine.  Around mile 17 when we were entering Delaware Park there was no shade and the sun was fully out so, was definitely starting to feel warm out. Then being the sun and bit of heat for mile, mile 18 I started feeling my body to slowdown by then mile 19 my body was really started to drained.  I took a piece of my waffle and finished up my last of water and most my Powerade.  From mile 19 to mile 20 it was downhill so, I let gravity do the work because my calves really starting to hurt.  I really slowed down at mile 21 & 22 and definitely starting feel like I wanted because between the heat, calves hurting, and my body just feeling like it wanted to really finish.  So, I changed up the walk/run ratio from mile 22 to 23 and do a lot of self talking saying, "I know you are getting body, I know you think you want to quit but, you have come this month to quit now because want kind of example would be setting for the kids if give up now.  You are stronger to make it through, so what it is a rough spot, just keep moving, you got this, so get it done.  There was a water station at mile 23, they had a sign saying, "you only got 3.2 miles left, you got this!"  I took the Gatorade and water, drank both and I told myself, " you know what you do got this so get it done."  So, mile 23 to the finish, I got back on track for the 9:1 (run/walk) ratio, saw people handing beer along the last 3.2 miles, there were sprinkler at the next water station and I again I took both the water and Gatorade, which definitely help.  I finally saw the sign for mile 26, I could feel myself fill up with tears because I knew I was almost there, I had to swallow the lump I was getting my throat (the one that some people get when they want to cry).  I rounded the corner and finally see the finish line and told myself, "give whatever you have left and finish hard."  Success, I crossed the finish line, pulled out my earbuds, got my medal, went over the the picture booth for the professional pictures and Bill took a picture too.  Finally found an opening in barricade to get to Bill, he gave me a hug and I started crying because I finally finished this marathon journey thanks to love and support from him, I was/am so grateful to experience this moment with him.  It took some efforts to getting back to the van due to the adrenaline rush that I kick in from mile 23 to finish when gone and I was very tired.  I told Bill that there will another one just not very soon and this my start point.  Thank you Bill and all of MRTT mamas as well as other friends and family for the love and support through this journey it has been amazing.

Here a map of the course:

Here are the split (using the 9:1 run/walk ratio):

Training Time (as May 2014)

Here Training Times that I have been using to train for my first marathon as well as goal times for 2014:

I haven't done a lot of speed pace work, I'm hoping to do more of it after the marathon.  These are goal time that I hope to reach by the end of this year (not so much the marathon one due to it is my first marathon and I just want to finish).

The marathon training journey is coming to a close

I finished my last long run this morning with some of MRTT mamas and they knew was my last long run so, they followed my run/walk ratio, which I absolutely appreciate.  We maintained 9:30 pace for 10 miles, which felt amazing because I felt relax and confident about doing the marathon now.  Knowing that I have a week and wake up before it, makes a little nervous but more so, I'm excited to do this.  Since January, I have ran almost 480 miles in training for this marathon.  I have changed my diet (limited my processed sugars); how much I hydrate before, during, after a run; I found tested out what kind of gels, chews, waffles, etc.; started cross training twice a day in order to strength my core; kept a running log; and have experience some minor set backs but, was able to adjust and move forward.  This coming week, I'm suppose to run 3 miles on Monday, 4 miles on Wednesday, 2 miles on Thursday, rest on Friday and Saturday, then finally the marathon starts at 7 am.

I'm so grateful for Bill and MRTT mamas in being so supportive, encouraging, and just simply awesome to help me mentally and physically prepare for this marathon because without all of them (especially Bill), I think I might have given up a couple months.

I think the biggest thing I have learned on this journey thus far, it is ok to be discouraged and have the moments of weakness when the voice in your head is screaming at you to stop and this isn't worth all of this but, also ok to tell THAT voice to sit, shut f$%k up, and believe that you got this.

So, I know that I will probably have a point in the marathon that I want to get up but, I will trust my training to this point and know that failure IS NOT an option, duct tape that negative voice in my head, keep telling myself that I'm strong, trust your training, and you've got this.  I don't know what my time will be when I cross that finish line but, I WILL cross that finish line knowing that I did everything that I possibly could to prepare for this.