Weekend Wrap and Monday Miles

Last week I decided to take my Facebook social running group and join up with the Run JunkEes. The closest group was in San Antonio and since I had a pretty large group on FB it seemed like a good fit. I am excited to get to meet new runners and be a part of their community. 

This weekend was spent in San Antonio at a wedding of one of Dave's friends. We had a great time and we were even able to spend some time with his grandparents while we were there. 

But Monday means #MondayMiles and it was so hard to wake up this morning after the fun weekend we had. I think Dave and I were both crashed on the coach/chair before 9 PM last night. Did 3 miles of hills this morning on level 2, which is an increase for me! 

I was filling in my Believe Journal this morning and this quote was on one of the pages. I love it. I think I need to write it on my bathroom mirror until I know it by heart. 

Mid Week Wrap Up

I slept like crap Monday night but still managed to get out of bed Tuesday morning and get to the gym! I am always reminded afterwards of why.....the feeling of accomplishment and remembering the goal I have ahead of me! I got in a 2.5 miles tempo run. Short of my total goal mileage of 4 but I just started tempo runs and they are kicking my butt! I am hoping I can do them at the goal mileage I have set for myself during my training plan. 

Gym selfie after doing abs and rolling out my calves. This seriously hurts so good! This roller and I are going to be best buds before too long!

 I went to the grocery store and picked up some snacks since I was out. I found these Kind bars. I usually only see the granola bar type but these little squares are amazing! And HEB at a coupon for squeezies so I picked up a box of those too!

I have been keeping up with logging my progress and daily runs in my BELIEVE journal that I got for Christmas. I have a feeling it will be neat to look back on it and see how far I have come. I really like it to map out my training plans and put down my goal mileage on paper. I do wish that it had more examples for different drills and types of runs that the pros do since I am such a beginner. 

Today is rest day and I needed it. I must have snoozed my alarm atleast 4 times! Dave comes home from hitch tonight so I am looking forward to a a good night catching up with him. 

Goal Races for the Year

Once I make it public there is no going back right?

So here it goes.....The plan for the rest of the year!

August 15 is the 15K trail run in Corpus Christi at the Oso Creek Park. Dash 4 Cash will be my first trail run and longest non road run. So far it seems we will have a pretty good group getting together to run this one so having the encouragement should make it much easier. I ran Warrior Dash over a year ago solo; I finished but it would have been way more fun with friends. 

September is the Spa Girl Tri at the Lost Pines JW Marriott. So far we have a group of ten girls who are starting to train for this one. it is a 300 meter swim through the lazy river, 2 mile run, and 10 mile bike ride. I was a varsity swimmer until senior year of high school so the swim doesn't freak me out aw much as the 10 mile bike ride! Thank goodness a friend of mine Melissa who I swam with as a kid, her family owns a bike shop! Britton's Bikes in San Antonio is the place to go if you need anything for road cycling. 

July actually starts the official training plan for my goal of running (maybe a little walking) my first 1/2 marathon in December. Carrera Races hosts a training series for the Rock N Roll in December so I figured that would be a good long training plan with help along the way. The Gusto Series is 5 races held on a Sunday July through November, gearing you up for the 1/2 or the full. I plan on registering for the 5K, 8K, 10K, 12K, and then 10 miler. Three weeks later is the 1/2.  

This is going to make me mentally tough if I plan on completing everything as planned. I have been logging everything in my running journal and setting out my plans on a calendar. I am looking forward to the challenge and becoming a better run on the flip side.

Super Lab!

Random side note:: So the dogs have been outside a lot this week since there are no holidays the break up my work schedule and Dave is out working. I came home the other night to see that Woodrow had pulled the towel off one of the furniture pieces on the patio where they stay and chewed a few holes in it. I scolded him and put it back. I got home last night from teaching FPU  and noticed he had pulled the towel down again. I am guessing Woodrow thought he needed a super hero cape! 

(Before anyone freaks out, I actually put it around his neck so I could take his shaming picture)

Today is day 9 for me. I didn't take a picture of dinner last night, totally forgot but breakfast this morning was leftover dinner (my slow cooked wild pork shoulder mixed with potato and cabbage) topped with two eggs and a glass of unsweet tea. It was very good! 

After two days of not being able to run because of church commitments (which will be like that for the next 9 weeks) I am looking to get in at least 4 miles today after work. I woke up this morning to 40 something degree weather and rain so I think I am going to stick to the treadmill to avoid getting sick or falling while I am running. This ends my first week of training for the Cowtown 10K. I didn't meet my mileage but I know I am still on a good path. I have been using my running journal for almost two weeks now and I love it. I really feel like it will help me reach the goals I have set out for myself this year. 

Running Journal

For Christmas I received (actually I got two!) the 

Believe Running Journal written by Lauren and Ro. 

This is my second week to use it and I really enjoy it. I enjoy the through process and being able to lay everything out. It is really making me focus on making time to run and which runs I have to do that do to achieve my goal. I just mapped out my training plans until February 28 which includes 2 10K's. Between using the journal and my Nike App Coach I have been able to plan out my mileage for each week based upon my schedule. I am trying to make sure I balance my life. I would like to keep up spin and HITT with my friend Sara, Wednesday nights has always been small group church, and starting this Thursday for the next 9 weeks I have committed to teach the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University class at our church. All of my after work activities play into the time I have available to run. So far based on what I have put onto paper I can meet my goals. 

What I did to plan is I took a pencil and wrote in my goal mileage/workout for that day. If the journal gets updated I think that would be an awesome line to add to each day to see if you are really working at meeting your goals or not. 

Christmas Goodies

When it came to Christmas this year I raked in the goodies! Up top - a new running jacket from Asics, a gift card to FleetFeet to get a new pair of shoes and a running journal. I actually got two of the journals and was thinking of keeping the second one for next year but does anyone know if they change every year??

While I was in Cali I made a pit stop by the Nike Outlet and Target for some more goodies too! In Alice I am an hour away from a Target and almost three hours from the outlet malls in San Marcos. 

Nike I grabbed a new shirt, jacket and super comfy cotton pants! Target was a nice pair of boots, a new dress, and fab faux fur vest.