Splash N Dash

Finally, some pictures from the Splash N Dash.

Tomorrow starts week 5.  Here is the plan.

Walk 3:35

Run 1:25

Repeat 9 times 

What is your most important running accessory?

Yesterday I ran Week 4 Day 3 again.  It was much better than Monday.  Maybe I was having an off day Monday but I am glad I re did the week.  I feel confident to go on to week 5 now.  Also, I thought of a way to keep each run interesting.  On Wednesday my pace was 15:49. First I made a goal to get down to a 15:00 pace.  Now after my run I realized that will take some time. My pace on Friday was 15:46. So I gained 3 seconds.  So I changed my goal a bit.  Every run I am going to try bet my previous pace.  I am actually looking forward the seeing those numbers go down.

Anyhow, back to the topic.  This past week I had a little extra money.  I decided I was going to use it on some type of running accessory.  I had 3 ideas in mind. 1. Something to hold my phone. 2. Some type of container for water and 3. A towel I do not have to hold. 

1. Something to hold my phone - I have an arm band for my iPhone but I do not use it.  My phone case is too big so every time I want to use it I have to take the case off.  And it is not super easy to take on and off. Also, even if I do that, the arm band is not comfortable.

2.  Some type of container for water - I have been looking at different options for this.  I really want a camelbak backpack but I think that would be silly for my 3 mile neighborhood runs.  I have also looked into that belt with the water bottles but the idea of having 2 or more bottles bouncing around my waist doesn't sound pleasant.  And also a little silly for neighborhood runs.  

3.  A towel I do not have to hold - it is hot in Florida!  Even at 7 in the morning.  I do not like running and having nothing to wipe my face off.   However I do not wam too run around with a towel in my hand.

I needed to choose one.  I have a temporary solution for my phone.  And I am still unsure about the water deal so, the Towel it was.  Drumroll please..... I decided to go with a Swowel.  I know, you may have no idea what that is.  It is a towel, wash cloth size, connected to a belt, that you can buckle around your waist.  This allows one to carry the towel hands free.  And easily buckle and unbuckle while running.  It comes in 9 colors and is not a bad price. Here is picture of mine.

                                           

                                     

Even cooler, that grey strip you see is a reflective strip for running in the dark. (Never alone I hope) 

                                        

It It comes in this mess bag that you use to keep it protected in the washing machine. 

                                       

So far I have used the Swowel twice.  And the one time I forgot to put it on I regretted it.  I am happy with my choice! Best of all, it is a family company.  Who doesn't want to support one of those.  Here is the website it you are interested.  http://www.swowel.com/index.html

   What is your most important running accessory? Shoes and sports bras don't count! 

Week 4 x 2...?

Isn't that the truth!!!  Despite my lack of posts I have been trying to get back into gear this week.  On Monday morning I went out to finish week 4.  It was awful!  I do not know what was wrong with me but it was my worst run yet.  Half my intervals I could not complete and a few I skipped all together.  It was definitely a disappointment.  But then I remember something a fellow blogger told me.  P.S. She has a great blog. You can find her at http://seejenroerun.blogspot.com/.  Anyhow she told that I need to go at my own pace.  She mentioned a friend of hers, who also has a great blog http://www.carlyshrinks.com, had to do week one of from couch to 5K for three and a half weeks before moving on to week 2.  So in light of that, and my tough run, I decided I should repeat week 4 this week.  I ran again this morning.  It was a lot better.  I made it through my intervals and even got my pace average down a few seconds.  I am going to run the last day of week 4 again on Friday and then hopefully continue with week 5 on Monday.  Week 5 goes up to running 1:25 and lowering the walking breaks to 3:35.

One other thing she said, "I think it's better to be slow and steady and see small but meaningful progress. Going from running for 30 secs. to a whole minute within 3 weeks is significant! It's double!"  Good point! 

Don't tell anyone but I have missed you

Wow, its been a whole week since I have ran.  I actually miss it.  The weeks before I was so busy with boot camp the only running I was doing was sprints.  But don't worry I paid for it this morning!  I wanted to participate in a Summer Virtual 5k.  Today was the last day to do it.  I know, procrastinator.  I mapped out 3.1 miles around my neighborhood and went out this morning.  For the first mile and a half my legs were itching so bad they hurt.  I wanted to just call it quits and head home but I kept going.  By mile two the itching was completely gone.  I used my training for this 5k.  Here was today's schedule:

Walk 3:40 minutes
Run 1:10 seconds
Repeat 9 times

Due to time I used the first and last 3:40 as my warm up.  By interval 8 I felt nauseous.  That will teach me to not do anything physical for a week!  I finished in 48:32 minutes   I was a little disappointed with the time.  My first 5k was a few minutes better than that.  I think I do better in races and running groups because I have more pressure to keep up.  

Even with the itching and the nausea I still felt really good afterwards.  Morning time is definitely winning the battle.  Here are my before and after pics.  Can you tell I worked hard?

Day...? Still going!

I lost track of my days.  I finished boot camp yesterday.  A total of 8 sessions for me. There was a ton of squats, burpees and sprints.  Plus some other cool exercises.  Overall it was pretty fun.  I'm bummed to be done but excited to get back on my running schedule.

I left off at the end of week 3.  I picked that up last night.  I met up with a Moms Running Group, East Orlando, Moms Run This Town.  I almost called in sick but thanks to my friend Kayla I got my butt up and out after work.  These women are great.  We started off running around Lake Baldwin.  There were all different paces.  Then we went to a Mexican Restaurant for food and cocktails.  I stuck with water :)  I am looking forward to doing more runs with these ladies!

I was hoping the boot camp would suffice so I did not lose any progress.  Last night the running intervals felt pretty hard but my pace was faster than before.  So the boot camp must have helped in some way.  Next week I will pick up with my 3 days a week schedule.  Week 4!

Day 23 - Joggermom Marathon

How cool is this!  "The Virtual Joggermom Cancer Run…it’s not just a 26.2 mile race, it is an adventure!  How fun will this be to run and compete with other Moms all over the US virtually?!? We will be signing up Moms from July 15th thru October 15th to participate in our Virtual Joggermom Cancer Run. On October 1st the race begins. Participating Moms can start recording mileage until they complete a total of 26.2 miles by October 31st."

The cost is $11.54 until August 15, 2013.  10% of your entry will go to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. Here is what you get with your entry:

• Weekly newsletters about popular running topics
• Discounts from our sponsors
• Weekly play list to keep you moving
• Great place to hang out with like minded Mom’s
• Real medals (no more virtual ones this time) to all finishers
• $10 Credit to buy any item(s) at Joggermom.com
• Weekly T-shirt & bag giveaways (register early for best chances of winning)
• The prizes, the prizes, the prizes….

A marathon is not on my list of goals but how about a marathon over the course of a month... I can do that.  I just signed up!  Who is interested?  http://marathon.joggermom.com/ Here is a picture of the medal.

P.S. You do not have to be a mom :)

Day 21 - Hiking on Occoneechee Mountain

Okay so I did not have an opportunity to run this weekend.  I will have pick up where I left off next week.  However, I did get to go on an awesome hike up Occoneechee Mountain.  All together it was a little over two miles.  We did it in an hour and 47 minutes which isn't bad considering we had a two year old in tow.  Trust me, I got my workout.  Here is some pictures from the hike.