A breath of fresh air

It was 32 degrees when Will and I headed out the door.  I was grateful that Will feel asleep on the run because it helps me to know he's warm enough.  The run was relaxing even though in the beginning it felt like the run was going to be forever long.

Will, Jade, and I ran the flattest course possible.  There was a pretty good hill at the end.  My legs told me how tired they were, but the hill was over before I knew it.

To make the run interesting, I wanted to run some fast miles. During the first quarter mile, I decided to the fast miles on the trail instead of the track. Then while I was jogging my warm up miles, I decided for my fast miles to run 2.5 miles out and 1.5 miles back (to mix up the hills). Here are my mile splits.

8:11--I felt like everything was in slow motion. I decided to appreciate all my quarter splits that were under 2:10.

8:08--It was hard to breath. I think it was sunny and about 40 degrees.

7:45--This third mile was the flattest of the four. During this mile I finally stopped thinking about how cold my hands were. I also felt like I pushed this mile the hardest.

7:30--I guess I was finally warmed up.

The over all four mile time was 31:34. I was surprised. I beat the four mile timed run I did on October 13 by a minute. And it was a lot warmer then. Of course my last mile that day was straight up hill. Today the last mile was just hilly.

I ran 37 miles this week. That's a PR for me. Could I run 38 a week over the next five months and set myself up to run 2008 miles in 2008? I don't know. It would take a lot of work getting to indoor tracks when the weather gets really nasty. When the wind makes the temperature below zero, I am not sure I'll be running in that. Luckily Will and I have been able to still run in the early mornings. Will does well in 30 degrees. Eventually we will need to run later in the day. I wonder how cold is too cold for Will.

Sure 2008 in 2008 is possible. But, do I want to spend the time to do that?

Ran the first three with Jade.  There was a strong wind advisory with gusts up to 50 miles per hour.

Hills I can handle.  Cold I can handle that too.  But, super strong winds while pushing a jogging stroller with a rain cover. . . at one point I thought I was going backwards.  And Will and I saw a tree blow over.  Luckily we were a safe distance away.

Ran by myself today.  I tried to keep the pace as fast as possible, so my husband could get to class on time.  Definitely finished under an hour.  With the wind chill, it was 23 degrees.

Will and I were able to get out this afternoon. One report said the wind was 12 mph and the wind chill was 37 degrees. Will and I did fine. Here are my mile splits.

8:22--mostly down hill with the wind

8:36--overall hilly. I felt like I was working hard. I was very pleased to sneak my first two miles under seventeen minutes.

8:59--mostly up hill against the wind. I had a hard time focusing. My mind was wandering. My reminders to myself to keep pushing the pace gave way to fatigue.

Overall I felt I had a good work out. I gave it my best.

I think I know what's causing discomfort in my right hip. It's not so much the hip, but my bottom/upper ham string. Anyway, I think the muscle strain comes from the jogging stroller. The alignment is off. It veers ever so slightly to the left. I think I'll take it to a bike shop to see if they can straighten it out.

Other news, I have now completed three ab work outs in the past week. I am excited to continue to add more. Mostly I've just been doing so many different types of crunches including leg lifts, the plank, and reverse rowing. (I don't know if those are universal names, but that's what I call them.) Today, however, I tried a Pilates video, my former neighbor gave me. The DVD is divided into 5 ten minute work outs. I just tried the ten minutes of abs. It was okay.  I didn't get the full effect--Will needed some attention. I am excited to try it again and very excited about the arms and shoulders workout and stretching sessions.

Will slept most of the run.  It was a beautiful, sunny day.  My only complaint about the run was my bottom/ham string.  It bothered me the entire run, but only on my run.  My hip felt great the rest of the day.

Enjoyed running with Jade this morning.  Will fell asleep on the run again.  I don't remember my hip bothering me today.  That's a plus.

I ran to the grocery store with Will to pick up bread.  Today was very enjoyable.  One of my favorite parts was doing standing long jump with my husband and Will in the kitchen.  My record was four feet eleven inches.  We only measured one of Lars's jumps, seven feet two inches.  Lars and I also had some fun doing leaping lunges (side to side).  I lifted this afternoon--upper body.  Today was my first time to lift weights since we moved to Iowa.  I enjoyed it.  I also did some ab work.

I thought of a lot of fun things to say about my run and my day, but I blogging about my run isn't that high on my fun "to do" list.  Don't get me wrong.  I love this blog site that Sasha has put together and I love typing in my miles each day.  Lately, however, I have been giving my attention during Will's nap time or bed time to Christmas sewing projects, studying the New Testament for my Bible study group, studying Preach My Gospel for my other study group, preparing my Primary lesson for Sunday, Family History, and reading--Did I tell you guys I read Pride and Prejudice for the first time?  I finished it about a week ago.  So many fun things to do and so little time!

I was thinking about what I posted yesterday on the blog.  I know I must have come across as a blog snob.  I promise that's not what I ment.  I was just trying to say that I am trying not to spend so much time blogging and posting comments.  I am trying to spend that time doing other things.

Yesterday's eight seemed a lot shorter than today's six.  I think that's because I had someone to run with during four of the miles.

I tweak a nerve yesterday.  My poor right hip.  It never gets a break.

To answer everyone's comments from yesterday.

I did enjoy P&P.  My two favorite parts were 1) Lizzy visiting Premberly (Darcy's home and grounds) and thinking that Darcy won't be there and then he is!  And how he is so, so nice to her. 2) Lizzy's visit to her friend Catherine's home and how she runs into Dacry again and 3) (I know I just said two, but it's a good book) When Darcy keeps coming over with Jane's future husband (I can't remember his name) and Mrs. Bennett is so frustrated and confused about why Darcy keeps coming and appologizes to Lizzy for sending her on walks with him so Jane and her fiancee can be alone.

Michelle, I don't know what I am doing in terms of running right now.  I was planning on running six yesterday, but the weather was so nice and I met the girl I see doing sit ups, push ups, and running on the stadium stairs near the track.  Seriously, I had seen this girl every Monday if I go to the track.  She tucks her legs in under the bleachers and does straight up sit ups and side sit ups.  I ended up running with her for a mile.  Her name is Rachel.  I hope to see her in two weeks when I run there again.

Sarah, we will definitely call you on your birthday, so Will can sing to you.

I took Jade on a tempo run with Will and me.  It didn't turn out like I planned.  I hope I am not pushing Jade too much.  I told her we don't ever have to do a tempo run again.  She said I could do whatever I want because she was there to have someone to run with.  It just goes to show how nice Jade is.

Here's how the fast miles played out.

2:05--I thought we would average about 2:15, so I was surprised with this first quarter.

2:12--More of what I expected, however, I noticed Jade's labored breathing.

2:27--We were slowing down.  Jade encouraged me to go ahead.

I stepped it up to a 2:08 for the forth quarter.  By the fifth quarter, I was breathing pretty hard.  My miles were 8:50 and 8:04. 

Will enjoyed the run.  He was examining the almost empty tooth paste tube for most of the run.  Unfortunately, we lost it along the way.  I thought for sure I would hear it fall.  And I kept checking to see if Will still had it.  We must have lost it in the last mile when I stopped paying attention to the tooth paste.

Tomorrow we are off to Boise for Thanksgiving!  Packing and the up coming plane ride have been on my mind.  I hope I have enough toys and snacks for Will.

So I thought I'd just run 4 today.  After I ran the first quarter, I wanted to turn around and go home.  The wind was fierce!  The wind chill was 24 degrees.  I can't believe that the wind can knock the temperature down twelve degrees.  And it's only November!

I kept running (obviously) and enjoyed it.  (Hence, I ran six instead of four.)  At one point when I was running down hill, the wind was so strong I felt like I was running up hill.  The CRAZY wind!

Will slept most of the run.

Yesterday, I did an ab work out with my sister.  Today we did 56 lunges.  I feel sore already.  Not a good omen for the next couple of days, especially with the three hour car ride and the five hour flight tomorrow.

Oh... and I am pleased to report we did not litter yesterday.  The tooth paste tube was in the bottom basket of the jogging stroller.

Jade, Will, and I tried a new route.  It was a nice change.  The route starts with a big hill, but in general, not too hilly.  I am excited to try it again when we get back from Boise.

I ran over to the high school and ran twenty times around the track.  I timed a few miles.  I wasn't trying to do a tempo run, but wanted to keep it brisk.  Here are my mile splits.

9:29

9:07

9:08

8:55

 It was hard to get going at first, but I didn't mind.

I went to the track again. I haven't made much time for trying to figure out running routes here, but I'm enjoying reading, visiting with family, and helping out where I can at my in-laws. I've even worked on Will's Christmas stocking a few times.  Vacationing is fun.

I miss the jogging stroller.  There have been a number of times I've wanted to take Will out for a run.  (Will's a great running partner.)  However, the smaller stroller is easier for traveling.

I ran on the treadmill.  I forgot how boring treadmills are.  I changed my pace every two minutes and watch the movie, Sweet Home Alabama.  It helped to pass the time.

I ran on the treadmill again.

Saturday, we go back home. I am excited to return to normal life. I look forward to working on Christmas presents and writing Christmas cards. Hopefully, I can get them done before December 16, so I can get them in the mail in time. I think my excitement to get home will help me endure the forever long plane ride and car ride. Overall, I think the plane ride back will go better because 1) I'll know more of what to expect when flying with a sixteen month old and 2) we'll have tail wind.

I ran with my husband today!  It was fun.  I forget how explosive he is--a great sprinter.  We did about 10 strides.  I doubt they were official strides.  They varied in distance 50 meters to 100 meters.  Then I ran another 2 miles.

Will and I ran the first two miles with Jade.  I was pretty tired and Will wasn't his-usual-patient-self.  I found a stick for him which helped for a while.  We made it to the University's track, so we could add on a mile and see if Rachel was there.  She was.  And she was doing 100 meters of lunges backwards!  Rachel said backward lunges are more intense.

Rachel is a gal I see every Monday if Will and I go to the track.  I officially met her two weeks ago.  I think I mented her ab work out on the blog.

I don't remember being so cold.  And I ran through the winter last year!  Iowa must be the coldest place on Earth!  (I know that's not true, but I thought I was tough.)

Right before Will and I headed out the door, I checked the weather channel again.  The temperature had dropped six degrees and the wind had increased during the prior forty-five minutes.  I was worried about Will.  The wind chill was 11 degrees.  At the first sign of his discomfort, I was heading back.

Will did great.  He even fell asleep!  I was miserable, but all I could do was run back home.  The wind started to increase about half way through.  My nose felt funny--maybe a bit numb?  Under my beanie, I knew my ears were bright red.  Heading down hill, with about a mile and a half left, the wind picked up even more.  Like two weeks ago, I felt like I was running up hill, but I was actually running down hill.  I automatically hunched over the stroller more.  I kept telling myself, you don't have to run when it's 11 degrees again!  The whole while, Will slept on.

Eleven hours later, I am thinking I under dressed.  I needed a wind-breaker of some kind and some thermals.  I'll probably try it again.  I must be crazy.

It was warmer this morning.  Will and I ran with Jade.  Jade and I made plans to start running in the afternoons starting Monday.

Just did lunges and abs today.  The wind chill was sixteen degrees when Will and I normally go for our run.  My husband wasn't excited about Will going in the jogging stroller.  I am grateful for him.  He keeps my running insanity in check.  It's good to keep Will warm.

I don't remember why Will and I didn't go out after his nap.

My husband was able to watch Will while I went running with Jade.  The temperature was 20 degrees with winds 19 mph.  The wind chill was 5 degrees.  I learned my lesson on Tuesday and dressed with a few more layers and a wind breaker.  I'll have to look into Maria's and Michelle's ski mask suggestion.

The run went well.  I felt great.