The Head Games Begin!

I am having a problem with my paces.  I haven't run a half marathon in about 3 years and the last marathon I ran was at the end of Ironman Arizona, which was not my best showing.  A year ago I ran the Austin marathon, and just missed my goal.  For some reason I have it in my mind that I always have to push, push, push.  The first 4-6 miles always feels like a struggle and because of this, I have a hard time finding my pace in shorter distances.  Apparently on pace training runs too.

I've been running with a new running group this season because I am doing a later marathon.  It has been different, educational, and challenging.  I've met a some very cool people, and it has been an awesome experience.  The coach gives me daily feed back, advice, and contacts me regularly via email.  It is turning into quite the learning experience.

So far I've found out that when I hear pace, on runs shorter than 8 miles, I automatically think push it until it hurts.  I'm running like 10K pace all the time, when I should be running marathon pace.  My coach keeps telling me to slow down or I'm going to leave my PR on the streets of Cedar Park.  He looked at me on Tuesday morning and said, you have a high tech Garmin, use it!!  Why don't you look at it and slow down your pace.

So why don't I use my Garmin during a 5:30 am run???

• Because I can't get the light to turn on.  
• I am afraid of failing.  
• I think each run has to be better than the last. 
• I have that old school mentality, "Harder, Longer, Stronger"
• I'm afraid of quitting!

I program in workouts in my Garmin all the time, so why not use it to watch my pace?  I got home and figured out some cool things, I love this gadget!!

I programmed pace times in my Garmin and run workouts.  I now have a workout program for all of my runs, and the light goes off when I'm out of goal range.  This should help me with those paces.  I'm hoping that this will help me to learn the feel of the paces on my body with better confidence.

I'm taking a leap of faith here and actually trying to implement my own advice and the advice I've heard all the time, train smarter, not harder!

Am I the only one out there that struggles with the Harder, Longer, Stronger mentality???

Happy Running!
Tracy

Rest Day!

Tomorrow is a rest day; and I'm taking it!!  Been burning the candle the last two weeks.  I've lost 2 pounds and I expect to be down again on Saturday :).  My arms are again looking lean and mean, it's just to bad that I hold all my weight from the belly button below.

I can tell that I've lost some weight because my CW-X tights are much easier to get on and comfortable to run in again.  I got me some cool new running shoes.  They are Adidas, which I've never run in before.  They do have a flash of yellow on the bottom, but they are grey and white.  Kind of a nice throwback to the neutral colored shoes.  Balances me out from the neon Mizuno's I have.

I was playing with my Garmin yesterday, running fun reports to see if I've improved since I started training again.  Since January 1, 2013 I have run: 158.46 miles in 23:07:06 at an average speed of 6.9 MPH (~8:40 pace) with an average HR of 140 and burned an estimated 15,420 calories.  Pretty cool.  Interesting to note that in a month and a half I've spent almost one day hitting the pavement.  

I still have problems with my pace.  I find it very difficult in the first 6 miles of any run to accurately determine if I am running at my goal.  I find that I am often running to fast at the end.  Is that because in my mind running a fast marathon is going to be so hard that I need to somewhat push myself?  Or is it that I'm pushing myself because I think the first 6 miles are so hard?  In either case, I need to figure it out and get my pacing down a bit better.

I'm so excited for my rest day tomorrow, I've got it all planned out!  I'm not getting out of bed until it's time to get the girls up for school, then I'm getting back in bed until I have to get up and go to the Dermatologist appointment.  Then I'm having lunch with an old co-worker, and then it is leftovers and Friday night movie night!!  

I'm excited for all the runners in Austin on Sunday.  I've got a few friends that have been training hard for this event.  It is a great course and an awesome marathon to run.  Looking forward to supporting the runners this year.  Always fun to give back.

Grandma Shoes!

I've had a full week of quality workouts and TRX now for 2 weeks.  I've hit everyone of my workouts, except one, in which case I could only do an easy 3 recovery run because I had my girls with me while school was out.

My body has been paying for it!  I had a massage on Wednesday!  Kristen Tagle at Heart and Sole Massage is awesome.  I was so tight, from the tip of my head to the bottom of my feet.  Girl she said, what have you been doing??  You are tighter and more knotty than you were throughout all your IM training!

Needless to say, the massage was delirious torture!  I have never winced when someone massaged my feet, but they hurt!!  I knew they were tired and sore, but I didn't realize just how much so until she began to work on them.  "Girl, you need to take care of these feet! It's a wonder you can walk, let alone run with all these cables and adhesions down here" she said.  She said a lot more too!  When I left, indeed I felt much looser, but oh, could I feel the work she had done on me.  It hurt to put my shoes back on, and I realized it's time for Grandma Shoes!

I went home and I looked online for some comfort sandals.  In the winter, I always wear Dansko and Clarks and Born, they have great fashionable boots and the shoes are so comfy, but summertime sandals leave a bit to be desired.  I've had a few cute summer Dansko Clogs and Indigo and Born heeled sandals, but what I need now were flats, comfy flats.  It is just to darn hot in Texas to wear sneakers in the summer!!

I found some that I thought were reasonably cute for flat comfort based sandals.  I found 2 pairs of clarks on sale and one pair of Danskos!  $135.00 later, (can you say steal?) and two days later my husband opens the box and looks at me.  He says, "I was expecting something with a little more pizzaz!"

I excitedly grabbed the boxes and put on my new sandals.  "They look comfy." he says.  Which translates to "I don't like!"

But they feel like heaven on my feet!  I love these sandals!  Yes, I will wear my old lady Mommy shoes with comfort and joy, then I'll rock my run clothes!  After all, that is what Lulu is for!

Happy Running!