4, 3, 5, so far this week

So it's Wednesday and I've logged 12 miles so far this week. Feels great to be back out on the road! But at the same time it feels strange not training for a marathon or something. If I could train for a marathon all the time, I would but it's too hard with the kids being small. And.......we are wanting to be pregnant again. Yes, we want a 4th! Mentally I see myself pregnant this year instead of training for marathons but still trying to maintain my fitness so maybe I can run while pregnant. I know how tired I am usually in pregnancy so it doesn't seem possible but maybe I can try.

Yes, I am back but trying to figure out what running looks like for me right now. I am usually an all or nothing gal and running without an actual race on the calendar is sooooooo hard for me but I am trying.

5 miles today was great and it was 64 degrees! I loved the sweat and the dryed salt on my face afterwards. I loved the feel of my muscles being tight and my lungs burning a little from the wind. And I LOVED opening up a power aid zero and gulping it!

Feels so good to be back!

3 (Monday)

I'm really looking forward to being back on a training plan starting in a few weeks. I thrive on a plan! Right now I feel a little lost. :)

A great 3 miles in some cooler weather. The heat will return soon!

4

Ran a sluggish 4. Sluggish for now but fast compared to where I was at last year. People (ahem...me!) get so distracted by time and sometimes I have to stop and think about how much I have grown as a runner.

The heat has me in a slump. I press on!

3 with Heidi

It was hot! Duh! It will be hot until probably the middle of October or later! So I better just forget the heat now. We ran pretty fast and towards the end I felt like I was out of control. It's good to remind the body how it feels at the end of a race when you are sprinting as hard as you can. Good for the muscles and lungs to get used to!

Training begins in two and a half weeks! Better enjoy my Saturday morning of sleep while I can!

3

Happy Mother's Day!

Ran 3 this afternoon. It was just too hot to run anymore than that!

My body will eventually get used to the heat. It has to!

4 (Wednesday)

I will get used to the heat again. I'm TEXAN! I have to!

It was a great run for the mind and I really enjoyed the prayer time. It was sweaty but it was awesome!!

I love running!

3 (Monday)

I've been stuck in a rut lately worrying about my speed. It's really not something I need to focus on because summers in Texas tend to be very difficult and I am not going to drive myself nuts trying to run so fast it makes me sick. I did that last night and I decided it's not worth it. Marathon training is soooooooo different than half marathon training. The pace is slower and I have got to remind myself of that come June.

26.2 miles is hard on the body and I think I have forgotten how you feel at mile 17. It's rough but awesome at the same time.

6.30 (Saturday)

Ran with Heidi and it was hot but fun!

4 more weeks until Chicago training begins!

woo hoo!

3 (Wednesday)

Speed work at the gym on the dreaded treadmill. I get so bored so I put it on a challenging incline and ran like heck to get it done!

Still fighting major allergies! It's worse than it's ever been!

Hoping I feel better this afternoon for a quick run!

5

Good grief it is hot and humid! This Summer training will be tough in this heat but come October I should be strong for the Chicago Marathon!

I pray!

3 miles of speed work and core

I ran 3 miles yesterday to get some speed work in and it was 94 degrees! I was sweating buckets. It is going to take me a while to get used to the Texas heat again.

Since on of the kids has been sick, I have not bee able to get into the gym. Thankfully I have free weights and some other things at home so I can work on my core and arms. I really enjoy it!

I just got an email saying that the Chicago marathon is FULL! 45,000 runners and I will be one of them! SO EXCITED!

Oh and I ran in the high 8's and low 9's! However I did feel like I was going to die at the end. Working on speed is sooooooo hard!

A little over 4

I am not happy with this run AT ALL. I did not run my normal pace and I was burning up. If I am already this hot and it's only April, I'm scared for the Summer!

3 (Thursday)

Ran at the gym yesterday and turned it into speed work. Chicago marathon training starts soon!!!!

Still recovering from Pneumonia and have tried not to be outside too much with all that's blowing in the air. Hopefully next week will be better!

8 miles

8 miles of great conversation with Heidi at insane wind speed! There is nothing better than running with my friend Heidi! I love that girl so much and since we both ran the Austin Marathon it was so cool to recap and talk about it.

I am really hoping the Chicago Marathon will NOT be windy. Isn't it called the WINDY CITY?! :) Well we got a great resistance run in today! WOW!

We are runners, hear us roar! :)

3 miles of speed work and core (tuesday)

I got brave yesterday and did speed work on the treadmill and raised the incline to a 2 and sometimes 2.5. I ran at about a 9:15 pace but I think I could have run faster if I were outside. I am always afraid I will lose control on the treadmill and be the laughing stock of the gym!

The core exercises I am doing are making me feel so strong and will really help me be a stronger running. Running does a lot but there is so much it doesn't do for your core.

Finally enjoying the off season!

P.S. I have a child with stomach virus and no clue who will get it next. Praying no one! Tomorrow is my Birthday so the next few days will be hard to get running in. :)

10 on a beautiful day!

Sometimes you just need a good ten miler to change your perspective or blow off some steam! So today was a perfect day for a 10 miler! I needed to think and pray and think and pray I did!

I love how a 10 miler makes you feel! AWESOME!!!

Beautiful running,

Amanda

3

Ran 3 today but hope to do more tomorrow when the wind is gone!

2

This morning I left for a 10 mile run! I was so excited! I had my fuel belt loaded and I was ready to go. It felt wonderful and then all of the sudden before I hit a mile, it began to pour. But I loved running in the rain. It felt wonderful and refreshing. Then it began to thunder and lightning and I decided by 1.18 into that I needed to call Jeremy and have him pick me up at the elementary school. We have plans to go to the gym in a while so I even though I knew I did not have time to get in a 10 miler, I could at least run 6 and make it 7 for the day. However, there seems to be 30mph wind gusts so at a mile I came home because guess what? I don't have to run in the wind! Now come June, training time, wind, rain or extreme heat, I will have to run!

At least I got 2 in!

5

I ran 5 and did more of my new workout with my friend at the gym! I am doing some strength training that is HARD but so much fun! I feel stronger! I feel tough! This will so help me in running and it will even help in preventing injuries!

I'm getting excited!

4 and arms

Ran 4 and then did more weight training. I have a new friend at the gym named Nichole. I worked up the courage to talk to her. :) She is in great shape and has great arms! I wanted to know what she did to get shape in those arms so I started talking to her and then we worked out together and are meeting again today. She wants to get more running in but doesn't know how and I want to get my arms more toned and am clueless. I learned sooooooo much from her yesterday!

The gym is so much better when you have friends there!