10K expo

Yesterday I went to the expo and packet pick up. Not gonna lie, I was a little disappointed. It seemed smaller this year and a lot of the vendors were selling the same things (how many different types of running sunglasses are there??) I was really on the lookout for a pair of new headphones since mine went through the wash the other week. Was also hoping to find the type that are designed to stay in your ears better. No such luck. There was one booth selling headphones and they were the wireless kind. I didn't really dig that, but I would have been covered if I needed some sunglasses! 

I do, however, LOVE the t-shirt this year! I'm not sure what I was thinking when I ordered a small, I think I thought it was a technical shirt or something and those are always baggy on me. So it is a bit snug but alright.

I had to get a new armband for my phone since my old one doesn't work on the new 5S. I'm not totally in love with it so we'll see how that goes. 

In all honesty, I don't know if I am going to be running tomorrow. It is supposed to be raining down buckets and I felt like crap yesterday and woke up today with a sinus infection today. I'm really torn because I've done all this training and I will feel like a loser if I don't go but I know I will regret it as soon as I am standing out there in the rain.  I guess I will just see how I feel in the morning. 

 

B-man tagged along in the Ergo. I love this thing and wish I had used it sooner with him. 

Check back early next week to see if I ran or not!

Training Week 10: spot on

Saturday was week 10 of the training team. On one hand I am glad it is over because I won't have to get up early every Saturday again or run in the ridiculously cold weather. On the other hand I'm sad. The training team is always a good time and it has gotten better over the years since I first participated back in 2008. This year we had several different vendors stop by, the Y gave out a prize every week, we had bagels, donuts, coffee and tea, we were given signs to put in our yards, etc. Little perks seem to make things more fun.

Mmmm...

Coach John wasn't there this week so our run was actually 4 miles spot on. It was GREAT.

I've been very good these past 2 weeks about doing my PT at home and I feel like I have seen some improvement. I don't always get all the exercises in but I do get all the stretching and foam rolling done which Kevin said was the most important. I go back on Wednesday for my last session so I hope that he sees improvement too.

Keeping my fingers crossed for good weather this week. I really want to get out and run.

Also this past Saturday was one of my best friend's baby's first birthday party! We had a lot of fun. First birthdays are really just an excuse for adults to get together and drink. I'm pretty excited for B's now. I got a lot of good ideas and later figured out a "theme". I'm pumped. 

Yes I put a Cabbage Patch Kid wig on my child. My husband was furious. 

I'm excited to have the party but not excited about having a one year old. Where did the year go???


Next post: the 10K!

Training Week 9: no fleece pants on hot days

Yesterday was snow day number 11. I am so over snow. It was also my birthday! Everyone on Facebook was all, "hey you get your birthday off of work!" but I had already planned to be out and had taken a personal day so I was not all that thrilled. Plus I had all these plans for things I wanted to get done and none of that happened, except for my hair. I did get my hair done and I love it.
  

Uber cuteness!

Red ombré!! It's not quite that bright, the filter I used made it pop more. 

It was also nice to spend the day with my kiddo who was all dressed up for the occasion. I kept trying to convince myself to go to the gym but hanging out with him was way more fun. I did do Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred and shoveled snow during his nap though so I got my workout in. I also stretched! 

Saturday was 6 miles (actually 6.7) and it went fairly well. I ran pretty much pain free and stretched really good at the end. Sunday I woke up and had no soreness which was awesome. I had to walk a fair amount and it was also really hilly and hot. Race day will be flat and I won't be as hot because if the weather is like it was Saturday I won't be wearing my fleece lined pants. None of my capris were clean, oops. :-/

Not much else to report right now. Just another year older. One more trip around the sun complete. 30 wasn't so bad. Motherhood made it an interesting experience. 31? Yea that number is kind of bugging me. 

Training Week 8: getting real tired of your sh@! SI.

This week wasn't so bad all things considered. My legs were really tight and took about 3 miles to loosen up. After that it got better although the knee still bothers me a bit as well as the SI. I did manage to sprint to the end and finish strong on my run.

 Monday was a beautiful afternoon so I got out and ran 3 miles with B in the jogger. Pushing that thing definitely takes your run to the next level but makes it very awkward as well. I still like to run on my own to keep my form good.

I love how the jogger puts him to sleep

Tuesday was a GORGEOUS day and if I didn't have a bunch of other things planned I would have gone for another run. I had a gift card to Red Door Spa I needed to use so I went and had the Sugar Body Glow treatment. It was amazing!! First they scrub your whole body with salty body scrub and then you hop in the shower to rinse off and then they come back in and put lotion all over you. It sounds simple but there was a little more to it than that, a little massage and it was so relaxing. I really needed it more than I realized. Monday I took of work since it is my birthday and I'm thinking about getting a massage then ;-)

PT this week: Kevin had a nice "come to Jesus" talk with me yesterday about how if I don't strengthen my hip flexors and core the SI will always plague me. I got the message this time. I don't go back to PT for 2 weeks so my goal is to do the stretches every day between now and then if not all the exercises everyday as well. Yesterday my SI hurt so bad I was struggling to get up on the step stool to hang some artwork at school. Kevin literally popped it back into place...it is very awkward feeling a part of your body pop that doesn't normally bend.

So stretches, every day. Hold me accountable people.

Saturday is 6 miles. Race day is two weeks away!!!

Training Week 7: feeling good

This morning I am sitting here watching the snow fall as I drink my green tea. Both boys are still asleep, no one has to work today, and it's relaxing despite being sick with some sinus funk. Even though watching snow fall is peaceful, I am ready for winter to be over. Yesterday it was 70 degrees and glorious outside. It got me totally in the mood for flip flops. Today, not so much. I am glad to have an extra day at home though.

Saturday I ran 5 miles. I stopped twice to stretch and hung out for a few minutes at the water stop and still did 5.2 miles in an hour flat. Not only that I had no soreness after and still feel great today. My knee only hurt a little while running and my SI didn't bother me at all. When doing my PT exercises this week I noticed how much easier they seem. My hips are finally getting stronger. I also did not feel hunched over while running this week! I really think the stretching made a difference.

I showed Kevin my laundry list of issues from last Saturday and the only thing that concerned him was my SI. This actually made me happy because it confirms that I am not crazy and imagining things. Long story short, something was twisted the wrong way so he helped me try to pop it back into place. The SI was sore the next day but felt better after a few hours. I'm really glad it didn't bother me much while running.

Even though I have been seriously running for 6 years I feel like I am finally understanding the importance of doing more than just running. I will really miss going to PT when it is done because I get a good workout while I am there and it is fun. But I feel that I know more now so that I can continue the exercises when I go to the gym and keep myself strong and hopefully injury free. Also having the accountability is nice because sometimes I can be a slacker ;-)

Hard to believe the 10K is only a few weeks away! I'm hoping for a warm, sunny morning and a great , pain free run!