Achieved major milestones today ...

Holy Hannah -- what an amazing weekend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I know that I have not blogged in a few days, there are some solid good reasons why -- trust me!!!

On Friday I was preparing to direct a 5K Race that was being held in Rochester, MN the next morning. So, I was a wee bit busy with that as well as making sure that some of the items for the LSR event today were also solidified.

Saturday, was SEMYO 5K race!! Now, there was an unfortunate mishap on the course and the route was a bit off for some as well as the results, due to the mishap. YET -- there was an amazing turn out and I believe that from what everyone has said they were able to enjoy the route, the day and also the time spent with SEMYO!!! So, all in all -- it was a success with lessons learned!!

Then today, there was a LSR ( Long slow run ) prepped, in honor of my 17 yr anniversary date. I decided to throw an event together to get me through 22 miles ( Longest I have EVER ran in my life ) as well as celebrate a milestone in my life. I was also thinking of the others that are around that are training for a FULL Marathon, other then myself, and how this would fit into everyones training schedule !! How amazing -- the turnout!!

The day, also to note, turned out AMAZING beautiful  !!! A great turn out , wonderful weather and awesome company, made the 22 miles much easier then I had ever imagined !!!

There was a few miles in there where my legs were extremely heavy and I was wondering how to roll through it, but we all shared about it and made it through !!

Then the last 1.75 miles I just got into a zone and nailed it !! MAN did that ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!

22.01 miles in 3:31:50 - 9:38 pace ... I am now officially excited for the Wobegone FULL on May 12th !!!

Hopefully you had a fabulous Sunday and enjoyed each moment!!

Stay On. Keep On.

Onward and Upward!!

Loading up on mileage

Its been shared with me that during peek training times, you load on the mileage. Well, that's this week baby !!! We have 3 weeks until the FULL Marathon!!! LET's Do This!!!

Last night I ran a track workout -- total of 8 miles I was able to load up on. 3 miles hard ( 800's x 6 ) and did them much easier then I thought they would be ... strange, but I am pretty sure that it's due to the training that I am putting in. I used to dread them, horribly. Last night, not so much !! YAY!!! Now to keep this base throughout the year!!

Today I will hit the Douglas for around 6 miles..... enjoying another hour with another GF that loves running !!

How awesome is this life ??? Yes, there's alot of pavement pounding right now, but I tell ya what -- it's going to be worth it once I cross that finish line!! Not only that, it's awesome that I am a stronger runner today !!

Onward, Upward !!!

A few miles later

Guess I need to update y'all with what I have been up too!! Geezzzzz......

Let's go back to this past Saturday.

I front-loaded 2 miles in front of the Fetzer 20K ( 12.2M ) race so that I had in some good miles. I was aiming for 21, yet, did not make it as I ended up cramping around mile 10 in the race. There are those that have their ideas on this and that, so I will try the less impacted ideas first and go from there. I finished the race in 1:55, which is not to bad, for I walked some of the last few miles, with the cramping. I was extremely happy with how it ended, for it was a tempo run for me and that was a fast tempo for my first 9 miles or so.

Then I took a few days off, well, Saturday night I hit the dance floor pretty hard and haven't done that in years!! So, that was a good workout and man did I sweat!!

Today I was able to run the north shore!!! How awesome it was -- such beauty!! I put in a 5 miler, as I was running out of time, from stopping to soak in the view!! Here's a beautiful shot of some of what I was able to take in today:

I know that I have a full to complete, coming up on the 12th of May. I know that I will cross the finish line. What I do not know is how well I will do for a time. Then I was reminded the other day, last week, that this is my first Full Marathon EVER!! To enjoy it and not to 'kill' myself during training. I will do what I am able to, in order to pull it off and then I will cross that finish line and be happy. I just need to remember that I am doing all I am able to at this point in my life and that this is my first ever and I need to enjoy it.

The Boston Marathon was ran, it was hot an people conquered. It's about your own personal accomplishments, not about what you compare yourself too, not about what others think, it's about what your goals are and keeping them in reality.

Onward. Upward. Stay on. Keep on.

Giving back in a different way .....

Today was a day where I was able to spend time running ( 4 miles and some )  around to figure out a route for the upcoming SEMYO 5K that I have directed over the past 2 years.

What an experience!!

The best part of the entire thing, for me this year, is knowing that while I put the route together, place all the volunteers, compile the finish line, it's all for the runners and the organization that I am putting it together for. Has nothing, absolutely nothing, to do with me. Not only am I able to help out in kindly fashion, I am able to do it this year, with some experience and knowledge for the runners. Each step I take, each turn I make, each corner approached, each incline I view, that's what the racers will be doing that Saturday morning....as they trudge the next step, push through that next stride, run until they reach the finish ......

I love being able to put together something so intimate to the next racer.

Today I am grateful that I now have another experience to share and also another story to be told.

Its all about aiming for the moon an landing amongst the stars.....

Double work out

Good Morning to you !!

I have not written for a while, due to a few different reasons ( which would be mainly called LIFE ):


* My daughter had an episode that required my immediate attention
* I was not around internet access for a week

But I am back now !! Here we go -- ONWARD to training season !!

Yesterday I was called, in a spontaneous way, from a running friend of mine -- wanna run 9 ??? I knew that I was going to the track last night, but eh, I need the miles. I am behind on them !! So, I said: Sure thing .. .Let's do it!!

It was a SWEET Run!!! The last three miles were in a nice groove, along the lines of a tempo!! So, technically, I was able to put in a tempo and track all in one day. Is that a good thing, probably not, but its done now.

Then off to the track I went -- after a shower ( some reason the children said I was stinky !! HA !! My boy was like: why shower, your only going to get stinky again !! ~ He's 6 !! ).

The track was shorter then I wanted it to be, but it was.

A nice 4.25 on the track ( not including recovery ) and then I called it a night.

Upward and Onward!!!

!! Longest RUN Ever in my life !!

I see that I have some catching up to do here!!

Here is goes:

Tuesday -- I did a tempo run on the dreadmill and man oh man .. my legs and body were stiff !! But got through that first mile and BAM -- off I went on the next two miles!! Was sorta shocked at where I am at, but it was neat to see the results...

Thurs -- I did a nice hard 45 min core workout!! Feeling it and hopefully it's going to start paying off sooner then later.

Friday -- TODAY -- Ran the longest I have ever ran in my life. I set it up so that I had to run to a town an back again. It worked out perfect !!! Course I have to say the first 5 to 7 miles were a b!@# as they were windy!! ( 25 MPH ) Yet, the best thing about the run ( other then the confidence I've gained ) was that I RAN to a town I have only EVER driven to !! CRAZY!!!!

Off to Minneota from my grandmothers I went today and it was pretty profound running that, instead of driving. Very invigorating!! It was so awesome!!

Tomorrow -- will be a rest day and Sunday afternoon, I am hoping to get in a nice 6 miler, just to keep the muscles loose.

Hope you are all enjoying your week and have a Fabulous EASTER!!

Strength Training

Today was a day that I decided to do the weights and a strength workout... 45 minutes worth, 3x's of reps, working on the upper portion of the body while throwing in a few leg exercises.

I might go for a short jaunt later today, yet, with the timing the errands needed for this upcoming holiday, I might just work in core workout this evening to keep the heart a pumping and muscles all stretched out.

Tomorrow I will aim for a 4 to 6 miler, as Wednesday the time will only allow another strength workout ( 2 for this week ) and then I will get in my 2 other runs this weekend, while we are at the family's for vacation.

A side note, after finding out of another expected death of a friend, remind those you love that you care!! One never knows when it's their last day or your's at that......

Stay On. Keep On.

Race #3 out of 20 ( for 2012 ) Complete

Well....Today was a day for running. That's for sure!!!

I was directed to run a warm up of 2 miles and then race the 8K and then return home to finish up my miles to total 17. Today was the only day I was able to put them all out there for the long run and I just agreed to what was suggested.

Not sure I believed that I was really going to do it - other then, I was told to do so, so I followed through.

I ran a good solid 8K - awaiting the final chip times to appear so that I am able to see if I PR'd this year or not, but eitherway it was solid and I am happy with that. I also did this with OUT headphones!!! My 2nd race EVER Without them in and this time was all by myself, last one I was paced by a friend!!

Below is a picture of some of my friends ( Nanci and Angie ) :

Then when I returned home, after a drive to and fro Lewiston ( Fool's Five was held there ) I decided to check in with the children, throw in supper and re-hydrate, change an get at the last 10.

While I was out there, I was wondering how my legs would hold up, how crazy am I really, how the heck do people continue to train for full marathon, how am I still running ??, what time is it, how many miles have I done completely and so on and so forth -- course I do talk alot so my mind was full of oodles of these questions.

Then I hit the wind on the way back and that last 3 miles, was difficult for me. Otherwise I felt strong and good the entire rest of the run!!! Now to me, that's what is crazy !!! HOW did I become such a runner ?? To some of the people I hang out with, that's really nothing, but to others their jaws drop when I tell them the distance and the discipline we put forth for these races.

Eitherway -- it was a solid, productive day for training and for some odd reason or another ( trust your training ) it's all coming together and I feel stronger as a runner today, then I did yesterday.

Onward!! Stay ON. Keep ON.!!