These last couple weeks have been so incredibly busy.

I deliberately didn't post about week twelve's training until now because over that weekend I didn't get my runs in. This had my long run overflow into week thirteen, so instead of having a really tiny training recap, I wanted to share it as part of a bigger post!

As we all know, life is crazy and things happen. We have to make choices and we have to live with those choices. October 13th and 14th my Sister-In-Law and I had our very first craft show. We had no idea what we were getting ourselves into and poured every ounce of ourselves into that event. This left me, personally, drained in every way possible. I worked my butt of from Friday the 12th through Sunday the 14th. I barely slept and was just a mess.

Running took a back seat unfortunately, I was very unprepared for that entire situation.

I regretted it the second I had a moment to breathe, ask my poor husband who had to deal with a blubbering wife who was kicking herself in the butt for not running on that Sunday evening.

I made a choice. I had to live with it. I was not okay with it but it was my decision. Life gets crazy but that's not an excuse, I'm not making an excuse. I'm owning up to it, bottom line, and I know that next time around, my choice will be different.

There's no worse feeling as a runner then feeling like you've let yourself, your coach, those watching you, down. I felt like I let everyone around me down. True or not, that was my feeling and it was NOT a good one.

I digress.

The week prior and the week after were both excellent. Especially after this situation occurred. I doubled down. I'm more driven and focused then ever! This race, this is what I'm working for, this race is a PRIORITY!

Let's get to the training...

WEEK TWELVE

Day 1 : Monday 10-8-18

Day 2 : Tuesday 10-9-18

This run was fun! Warmed up for FIVE miles. The last THREE were ONE MINUTE hard and then ONE MINUTE easy. I'm becoming such a lover of speed work, any sort, any time, speed work is my jam!

Day 3 : Wednesday 10-10-18

Day 4 : Thursday 10-11-18

Squeezed in these miles among craft show prepping! 6 steady, feeling strong!

Day 5 : Friday 10-12-18

Got in some early yoga and strength! I was working for the craft show from the moment I woke up until 2 am when I went to sleep.

Day 6 : Saturday 10-13-18

Day 7 : Sunday 10-14-18

^ See above story 

Day 1 : Monday 10-15-18

Day 2 : Tuesday 10-16-18

Day 3 : Wednesday 10-17-18

I biked, it was glorious. The boys were at school so I was able to get it done on my own with no distractions! 

Day 4 : Thursday 10-18-18

4 miles followed by 4 strides. Again, nothing earth shattering but just another great run for the books!

Day 5 : Friday 10-19-18

More biking, on a crunch, was almost late picking up Oliver! No picture, there just wasn't time and THAT I was okay with skipping out on!

Day 6 : Saturday 10-20-18

REST DAY! An actual scheduled rest day!

Day 7 : Sunday 10-21-18

20 miles.

Can we just take a minute to appreciate the long run?!

This run was a non-negotiable. I HAD to get it in. The way that happened was a bit unorthodox, however. The first 10 miles were glorious, the pace was excellent and surprising and I just felt GOOD. It also helped to be meeting up with my Mom throughout the run as well! Great moral support! Then I went to try to finish it up in a different park, reasons that just, it's just a lot of information. Anyway, long story short I just didn't feel comfortable running in that park. I know it's probably all in my head but I've heard too many stories lately and I'm a paranoid person at best anyway. SO, I ran 2 miles at the park, 4 miles back at my Mother-In-Law's on her treadmill. Then finished the last 4 up at home on our treadmill. It took me 4 runs to get in all 20 for the day. I was a little sad I wasn't able to get them all in at once and regret leaving the trail after the first 10 miles BUT at the same time, each run I was starting on more tired legs. There really was no true recovery time between these runs and I've convinced myself that while not ideal, it's still good practice running on tired legs multiple times throughout the day!

At the end of the day, I got it done! One mile at a time #noexcuses

SUMMARY:

Running is hard. Running is fun. Running is a priority.

We are SO close to race day it's making me a little nauseous when I think about it. Technically I haven't MISSED a long run, I did get my "dark" weekends long run in on that Monday, so there's that. I just need to trust in my training, that I've been putting in the work and that my legs WILL be ready when I get to that start line!

Here's to week FOURTEEN!

*CHEERS*

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If you've run with me at all you know just how much I love my BUFF's. They're essential to every single run in my opinion!

Why do I love my BUFF's so much?!

They are so light weight yet powerful at the same time.

Let me explain...

I wear my one BUFF on my head as a headband on any run, specifically my outdoor runs!

This BUFF helps keep the sweat out of my eyes and keeps my head feeling cool and dry. I also slip it over my ears when it gets colder out and it helps protect my ears against the elements and cold! Fancy, right?!  Helps in heat AND cold weather!

The other BUFF I wear on my wrist as sort of a sweat towel. This BUFF is my absolute life saver. I sweat like crazy and in the heat and humidity of the Midwest I sweat from every single part of my skin and am always fighting sweat from my brow getting into my eyes and burning. This BUFF on my arm performs as a sweat towel in the fact that I can wipe any and all sweat away and it will help keep my dry and comfortable.

Now obviously there are MANY ways to wear a BUFF, here is a quick video to help you decide just how you want to wear yours on your next run!

SOURCE

So what are you waiting for?! I love my BUFF Original but there are SO many other BUFF options to choose from and there's bound to be a style that fits EVERYONE!

Check them out, you'll be glad that you did!

*CHEERS*

*CHEERS*

Day 1 : Monday 10-1-18

Rest Day!

Day 2 : Tuesday 10-2-18

Day 3 : Wednesday 10-3-18

Day 4 : Thursday 10-4-18

Day 5 : Friday 10-5-18

3 mile warm up on the treadmill and 45 minutes on the bike. Oliver was at school so it was just me and Charlie over at my parents. He doesn't understand why they aren't there whenever I go to workout while they are at work. Felt really good to get on the bike and I know I don't get over there as often as I should but I really appreciate the workouts when I do!

Day 6 : Saturday 10-6-18

Day 7 : Sunday 10-7-18

*CHEERS*

Week Nine

Day 1 : Monday 9-17-18

Day 2 : Tuesday 9-18-18

7 treadmill miles done today! The boys were going crazy the entire time so there were quite a few breaks taking to stop the boys from fighting one another. There was even once when Oliver had Charlie in what resembled a complex wresting hold... I swear, boys are insane. One minute they're fighting and the next they can't stop hugging and kissing each other. I also was dealing with a bit of a sinus infection so my head was a little fuzzy and my breathing a bit difficult. All in all I was glad I got the run in, there wasn't any way that I was going to make an excuse and push this workout.

Day 3 : Wednesday 9-19-18

I haven't ran a timed run since my Double Chubb training. So I started out with a 20 minute warm up, followed by 20x 1 minute hard then 1 minute easy, then a 10 minute cool down. I got in a total of 6.81 miles and it felt really good. I enjoyed not having a mileage hanging over my head but rather a time. I knew I was going to be running for a certain amount of time and that was really comforting and helped me get in a mindset for this run. I was happy with my mileage on top of it all as well!

Day 4 : Thursday 9-20-18

Holy heat. This run was intense. We ran faster than expected and dealt with the heat and humidity! I couldn't wait to get home and rinse off, I could ring out my clothes as if they had just come out of the washer! Cool, right?! Got in 4.2 miles and was happy to have gotten that run out of the way in the early AM before the heat kicked up a bit in the afternoon. Also, shout out to this lady for being on SO many of my runs this training cycle. She's been a kick butt running partner and have enjoyed every minute of our time together!

Day 5 : Friday 9-21-18

I didn't stop this entire day! I swear I was go-go-go from sun up until sun down! Got in my yoga cross training thankfully! I knew I was going to need it since I had a HUGE long run in store the next day!

Day 6 : Saturday 9-22-18

This run scared me. I saw 20 miles on my plan and I knew that I was going to have to mentally prepare for it. During my entire Double Chubb training my highest mileage I ran was on a treadmill. Other than my 50k, this training run was the farthest run I have ran outdoors and it was terrifying but after it was over I felt great! The first 14 miles I ran with my running partner! We talked, we saw tons of dead birds on the trail (still unsure what that was all about but there were at least a dozen of the same breed bird dead all along the same small stretch of trail), and we dealt with all of the crazy bikers! 14 miles in and I decided to get in the last 6 on my own on the trail instead of heading home and using the treadmill. I wanted this run all outdoors!

Nutrition is going great, I'm eating roughly every 40 minutes and every time I hit my aid station/car! PBJ's, peaches, plums and banana nut muffins have been my favorite go-to foods so far! I've also been paying attention to my hydration and electrolyte intake as well. I can honestly say that by paying attention to these things I feel like I could run forever! I don't ever let myself fall behind or tell myself to just hold on a few more minutes, if I feel hungry or thirsty or deficient in any sense, I slow down and take in what I need! I've never done this before so it has taken a bit of practice for me, nutrition and me have never meshed well!

Day 7 : Sunday 9-23-18

Recovery miles today! Took it easy, got in 4 miles and was just happy that I wasn't really sore from the day before! Again, a first for me, hitting such a long distance on Saturday and not feel sore the next morning! I can feel my body getting stronger each week and it always seems to surprise me!

Week Ten

Day 1 : Monday 9-24-18

REST DAY!

Again, another day of rest and attempted relaxation! 

Day 2 : Tuesday 9-25-18

I really didn't want to do this run. Same timed workout as last week and I was dreading it. I was tired and just run down from chasing the boys around all day. They take it out of me on a daily basis and I am constantly feeling like I have to fight the urge to just pass out at every given chance!

So again, 20 minute warm up, 20x 1 minute fast then 1 minute slow, and a 10 minute cool down. The awesome part about this run is that I hit the 7 mile mark! Upped my mileage from last weeks timed run and it felt great! After the warm up I just got into a groove and kept going!

Day 3 : Wednesday 9-26-18

5 treadmill miles. The boys cooperated more on this run but the motivation just isn't there lately. I can't explain it but it's been taking much more self motivation to get my butt on that treadmill or out on the roads! I'm always much happier after my runs so for my sanity and my families sanity I just have to make myself get these workouts in!

Day 4 : Thursday 9-27-18

I needed to get this run in before work. I knew that the day was going to be packed so planning strategically was a big deal. Thankfully I was able to do it and didn't have to get on that treadmill post work! Another speed workout for the week. First 5 were steady and the last 3 I increased a bit each mile! Felt good, felt right, got into a groove and let this run just flow!

Day 5 : Friday 9-28-18

Oh my gosh, the DooGood 5k was such a fun run that I got in on Friday! I was so lucky to have my dogs, Charlie, my sister-in-law and her pup along for the ride! Being part of BibRave I've had the pleasure of testing out some incredible products and ran one other FUN race, but this whole Scooby Doo Run series has been such a blast! I'm able to train and race whenever is convenient for me being as the race is virtual and basically all on our own honesty! I was so happy that my sister-in-law was willing and able to join us today, we had a blast with the dogs getting it done and us being able to chat and just hang out. Let's be real, we could just drop the "in-law" at the end of that because it's definitely a much closer relationship than that title tends to convey!

Coming up in October we have the Scoobtober 5k as well so I'm hoping we can plan it out to have this group back together again to tackle that 5k as well!

Day 6 : Saturday 9-29-18

First I just have to say that I feel so incredibly lucky to live in a city where the running community is beyond inviting. I am part of a few amazing running clubs through Facebook and have never once felt judged or anything of the sort. Not only do these run clubs feel super inclusive they also host group runs very regularly. One of my FAVORITES is Arch City Run Club's LADIES TO THE TRAILS events. Basically it's a ladies run that meets once a month at a different trail in the area. I've met some awesome ladies through these runs and love showing up on my own and just seeing where the run takes us. I always feel like I walk away on cloud 9 having just run through the woods, no matter the temperature or weather, with ladies who completely understand my love for this sport.

On Saturday I was able to meet up with the ACRC LADIES TO TRAIL run group and I got in 8 miles. On top of just having an awesome group of ladies, the leader of this group and the coordinator of the event is none other than my COACH, Jaime! So not only did I get to hang out with some kick butt ladies, I was also able to get some one-on-one run time with my coach and mentor! I can honestly say I think of her as a friend and mentor who just happens to be my wonderful and knowledgeable coach! She just has that personality you want to be around, she is positive and welcoming and it's impossible to NOT want to be around that energy!

The rest of the day we were crazy busy so I got in the last 7 miles of my long run that evening on the treadmill before the boys went to sleep. Those miles went really well! I was hitting times I didn't even plan on and afterwards felt like I could take on the world! All in all I can say my motivation came back like crazy today!

Day 7 : Sunday 9-30-18

*CHEERS*