Fitness Friday...March 1st Edition!

Happy Friday everyone! It's time for Fitness Friday!!!

Time for me to let you know all about my workouts this week! It was a bit of a different week for me. Last Sunday I ran a half marathon so I needed to recover some. But I couldn't take rest from running because I am running another half marathon this weekend! So I ran easy and continued to plank...but that is about it.

• Saturday- #plankaday 1:05

• Sunday- 13.1 miles in 2:30:31 average pace 11:29

• Monday- #plankaday 1:01

• Tuesday- #plankaday 1:12, 3 mile treadmill run in 33:58 average pace 11:19

• Wednesday- #plankaday 1:10, 50 pushups

• Thursday- #plankaday 1:03, 50 pushups

• Friday- #plankaday 1:00, 50 pushups, 3.1 mile run

So I didn't do as much this week as I normally would but that was the goal. I needed to take it easy so I could recover some. I'm excited about this weekend's half...this is the half I am running with the Sole2Soul Sisters that I've been training. It should be fun! AND....it will complete one of my #goalgetter2013 goals to be an official Half Fanatic! 

QOTD: What great workout did you do this week?

Will Run 10 Miles for Food!

This weekend I had 10 miles on the training schedule for the Seaside Half Marathon with my Sole2Soul Sisters! I chose a hilly route for them because I was told that there were some hills in Seaside. I want them to be prepared. We also had plans to eat breakfast together after the run to celebrate their two digit run. So what did I think about the entire 10 miles??? Yep! FOOD!!! ;-)

The run felt great! Have I ever said how much I love running long, slow distances??? I really do! I once again got to run this entire run with Holly from Running and Baking, Oh My! I love running with her on these long runs because we are the exact same pace!

The first 3.5 miles were flat...but they were a little tougher since my legs weren't warmed up yet. Then came the hills. We had a few hills for miles 4-5 and then we went flat again. Once we hit mile 7 the hills really started. My goal was to run those hills all the way and not stop to walk. How did I do? Success!

Challenges during this run: not slipping on the Mardi Gras beads that were still on the ground from the parade the night before! Luckily no one had this happen to them. And of course hills are always a challenge...but I always feel so accomplished when I conquer them! I made sure to remember my steps to get over those hills while I was running!

This month I am participating in the Girls Gone Sporty February Sharing with Heart Challenge! February is all about hearts...from Valentine's Day to National Heart Month. So this challenge is all about sharing and encouraging healthy hearts! Basically the challenge is to get active with others, take a picture of it, and upload it on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter with the hashtag #sharingheart. Join me in this challenge and a chance to win some awesome prizes! Sign up here!

I took a picture with Holly after the run and tagged it with the #sharingheart hashtag! I love that we both love to run!

After the run it was finally time to eat!!! I couldn't wait lol! Running 10 miles makes you hungry...especially when you are thinking about food the whole time you're running!!! The plan was to eat at a little cafe downtown but by the time we were finished running they couldn't seat us. We would have to wait 30 minutes. Well women waiting around outside in 30 degree weather that have just run 10 miles and are all sweaty is NOT a good thing. Some decided to go on home but 4 of us wanted that breakfast so we headed to Cracker Barrel.

I ordered the Old Timer's Breakfast...two eggs, grits, hashbrown casserole, bacon, sawmill gravy and biscuits. I was apparently hungry lol! I never eat that much for breakfast!!! And...I almost ate everything on my plate!!! It was so good!

And yes...that IS chocolate milk in my cup! Perfect post run recovery drink! No..I'm not six years old lol! 

So I've decided that I want breakfast after every long run now lol! Who's with me???

QOTD: What do you eat after a long run? Or are you like me and just drink a protein shake and then wait for lunch?

Running Long After a Marathon

I've always heard that you should rest as many days as the miles you run. So if you run a marathon you should rest 26 days. Have I ever listened to this??? NO! I would go crazy if I couldn't run for 26 days!!! And my hubby would probably kill me lol! Although I believe resting and recovering from a marathon is crucial, I think the most important thing is to listen to your body. If you feel like your body is ready to run again...then by all means RUN! If you feel your body needs more rest...then rest!

So after 10 days of rest I was ready to run again! Last week I ran a short run of 3 miles with my friends Paige and Jen. On Saturday I ran 9 miles with the Sole2Soul Sisters that I am helping train for the Seaside Half Marathon! It was great running with them again! My friend Katrina took over my group for me the weekend of the marathon and the weekend after so I could rest. Oh how I missed running with these ladies...and they floored me with how awesome they did on their 9 mile run!!!

I went into this run expecting it to be tough. I knew my legs were probably still recovering from the marathon. But I was so ready to hit the pavement!

As always the first 3 miles were hard. I wanted to quit. But I knew if I could just get past 3 miles I would be warmed up and ready to go! Once I made it to mile 4 I was feeling great! My legs were tired but the run was going great!

I also was happy to be running with Holly from Running and Baking, Oh My! We haven't run together since the Pensacola Half Marathon! I really missed her! We run around the same pace and even push each other when we need to. We make a great team!

The rest of the run was fabulous! Holly and I kept on pace and talked for the rest of the run. It was great catching up with her since it had been so long.

After the run I came home and did my normal post run stuff. I stretched, rolled, iced, and drank a protein shake. I tried a new protein shake since I was out of my normal Premier Protein shakes.

Has anyone ever tried the Gatorade Protein Recovery Shake? It was actually really good! There are 10 less grams of protein than in the Premier Protein ones but it's still a great option for me. It kept me from getting the headache I get after a long run if I don't refuel correctly. I found this one at Walmart...I can only get the Premier Protein ones at Sams Club. So these are great for when I can't make a trip to Sams.

After showering I headed to find all my men. They were at the Pinewood Derby Car races for cub scouts! I'll tell you more about that later!

A long run is a great way to start my weekend! Love it!!!

QOTD: Do you run long on the weekends? Or during the week?

Fitness Friday...Let's Get This Started!

Hey everyone! I know this post isn't going to be as excited as my Disney Marathon posts but I guess the fun had to end sometime! I loved reliving the marathon as I was writing about it! Thanks so much for all of your awesome words of congratulations!!! You guys are amazing!!!

Also...I hit over 600 likes on my Facebook page this week!!! Wow!!! I am in awe! Thanks so much!!!

Well last week was all about recovery. This week was about easing back into it.

This week's workouts:

• Saturday- #plankaday 1:30

• Sunday- #plankaday 1:00

• Monday- #plankaday 1:10

• Tuesday- #plankaday 1:00

• Wednesday- #plankaday 1:32, 3.11 mile run in 31:36 average pace 10:09- This was my first run since the marathon! I ran with Paige and Jennifer. We started out slow and then really picked up the pace at the end! It felt great to get back out there!

• Thursday- #plankaday 1:00

• Friday- #plankaday 1:00

Tomorrow I am running 9 miles with my Sole2Soul Sisters Seaside Half Marathon training group! Hopefully I can keep up with all of them! I know these marathon legs are not fully recovered so I'm not going to push them too hard. 

Oh...and yes....this just happened!!!!! 

That's right! Paige and I are running the Rock 'n' Roll New Orleans Half Marathon on February 24th! I wasn't going to do this race originally because the Disney Princess Half is the same weekend. Well...this girl waited too late to register for Princess and it sold out. So I decided to go for Nola! I can't wait to run the streets of Nola again!!!

The weekend after Nola is the Seaside Half. So I'm going to use these two races to qualify for Half Fanatics! :-)

QOTD: Have you ever run a Rock 'n' Roll race? Which one?

Fitness Friday...I'm Back!!!

This week was awesome run wise for me!!! I am BACK!!! Yay!!! No knee pain whatsoever!!! It feels great to be back into my running routine! Just in time for my Disney marathon...which is in 9 days!!!!!!!!!! :-)

Here are my workouts this week:

• Saturday- #plankaday 1:13, 10 mile run in 1:50:50 average pace 11:04- This run was super cold and windy! But it felt great...no knee pain and I ran the entire time!!! Fingers are crossed that my endurance is coming back!!! :-)

• Sunday- #plankaday 1:00

• Monday- #plankaday 1:11

• Tuesday- #plankaday 1:00, Resolution Run 5K in 31:37 average pace 10:10- This run was super hot! The temps were in the 70s and it was muggy and humid. Quite a difference from my long run on Saturday! Crazy weather here on the Gulf Coast!!!

• Wednesday- #plankaday 1:30

• Thursday- #plankaday 1:01, 3.11 mile treadmill run in 36:23 average pace 11:42 (why do I always run slower on the treadmill???)- I chose to run at the gym because it was super cold and raining. I don't mind running in the rain usually but with the marathon only 9 days away I did not want to risk getting sick.

• Friday- #plankaday 1:00

I am super proud of my week! Because I got THREE runs in! Do you know how long it's been since I was able to run that much? Since the knee thing I've only been doing long runs and resting the rest of the week to make sure the knee was good for the next long run! It felt great to be back into my running routine this week!!!

Tomorrow I have my last taper run before the marathon. I'm running 8 miles. This is also starting my next Sole2Soul Sisters half marathon training group for the Seaside Half Marathon! I can't wait to train these ladies again!!!

I cannot believe the marathon is almost here!!! I'm so excited!!!

It's been a great start to 2013!!!

QOTD: How has your first week of 2013 been?