Fun run for Boston

The local running club organized a run dedicated to Boston, so my roommate and I brought the dogs out and joined them. (we are third and forth from the left). The group did the same route they do on their weekly fun runs, which is a 1-miles warmup followed by a 2-mile run around the park. 

 My roommate is running the marathon this upcoming weekend (10k for me! yikes!) so she wanted to run a little more.  We ended up doing 5 miles total. 

I know that going on a fun run isn't really giving anything to Boston in a physical sense, but I have always been a believer that positive thoughts and large group support can really help someone (or somewhere) overcome almost anything! So if you are in Boston or affected by the tragedy, just know that a whole bunch of us in Central Illinois are sending positive thoughts your way! <3

Prayers for Boston

Coming out of my finals-induced blogging hiatus for a moment.  I'm sure everyone in the running community is already aware of what is happening in Boston.  Let's all take a moment to send some positive thoughts to those runners and fans in Boston.  Take another moment to tell the people that you care about how much you love them!

Hope all of my fellow running bloggers are safe!

-Paige

March 2013 Running in Review

March was an interesting month. It was half dominated by my indoor triathlon (doing an ironman over the course of a month...which I finished!! woo!).  The other half was spent in Europe doing an international commercial arbitration competition. I only ran twice but I'm surprised I even did that! Anyway, my review of March reflects these two things.  

March Stats: 

Total Distance: 41.94 miles

Total Time: 7.31 hours

Average Pace: 10'12"

Compared to February, I ran only 11 times as opposed to 14 times, but I still only ran 4 less miles. So I am definitely increasing my mileage.  My pace slowed down a bit, but that is probably because I take a slower pace doing my long runs.   My goal for April is to get back in the 9 min mile arena for my average pace :)

Unofficial Budapest Running Tour

I'm almost done with the first leg of my European journey.  I've spent the past few days in Budapest, Hungary for an arbitration competition.  I am so exhausted.  We didn't quite get over the jet lag before having to wake up early to arbitrate and then attend the evening social events (cry me a river, right?) But as we write this I'm seriously on the struggle bus staying awake!!

We went on a 6 mile sight-seeing run throughout the city of Budapest on our first full day in town. It was so awesome.  We stopped ever so often to explore castles, take pictures, buy a few random goodies, and eat lunch.  The weather was sub-par but the company was great.

(Map of the run. We had no idea where we were going but we did a nice little circular tour around the downtown!)

 (Run/posing for the camera)

 (Teammate bonding!)

 (Castle in Budapest)

(Posing at the steps leading up to a monument).

All-in-all, a great run.  Where is the most interesting place you've run?

10k training: Week 10

As much as I want to share my life with you all, I have to keep this short and sweet today because I am a busy traveling lady. Week 10 was a little hectic but I managed to finish my indoor triathlon and do most of my runs. All-in-all, week 10 felt really good and made me feel more confident about the 10k in April. 

Week in review:

Monday

Did Tuesday's workout pretty much. I cycled for 13.68 miles at the gym. 

Tues

Did Monday's workout. Ran 3.12 mi at a 10'00" pace on the gym treadmill. Then did the spin bike for 10.3 miles (which goes much faster than the other gym bikes btw!)

Wednesday

Went to spin class for 1 hour. Let me just give a standing ovation to anyone who is crazy enough to do that more than once a year. I was D Y I N G. DYING DYING GAH! It was so hard! 21.4 miles biking in 1 hour. 

Thursday

Thursday was interesting.  I signed up for something called "Run with the dogs" (I hope to write more about it soon), but basically, once or twice per month a group of runners takes out the dogs at the humane society for a 2-4 miles run.   Thursday was the training day and I had a lot of fun meeting everyone. Unfortunately, we didn't get to actually go out for the run yet, so no puppy run time.  I did end up just running around the area afterward and actually ran into my boyfriend (who was also running lol!).  I did 3 miles at about a 9'20" pace, and then did a few striders. 

Friday

Nothing!

Saturday

Was supposed to do a long run but had no time--I was also not in the mindset.  Saturday I was traveling from Champaign --> Chicago --> Zurich --> Budapest and I was all anxious about making sure I was packed and ready to go .My head was in the clouds!  I did manage to get on the treadmill for a few minutes and do a 2.6 mi run. 

Sunday

Jet lag, sleeping, drinking wine, and more sleeping!

Earth, Wind and Fiyaaa 5k

Someone once told me to never write words with extra letters attached (see above: fiyaaa) and I made the conscious decision to ignore them.  I want you all to know that I am singing my title to you, like Alicia Keys in Girl on Fire. Can you hear me?  Okay, I am done singing now.  So, I ran the Earth, Wind, Fire 5k this weekend and am here to report back about it!  It was my first officially timed race where there were actually medals for the winners (not that I got a medal..ha!). But that made it more exciting for me than the un-timed fun runs I've done so far. I wish they had a Miss Congeniality award because I totally would have won that. 

The race was on campus and there were around 215 people participating, so it wasn't a huge race.  It was about 38 degrees F and not too windy, so colder than I'd like not too bad.  The race was a 1.55 mile loop that we did twice.

Racers starting out. My boyfriend is the crazy one in the tank top and shorts. No worries... he was the first place finisher... So proud of him! My friends and I started in the back of the pack so as to not intimidate everyone around us ;)

This is my friend Jen and me at the almost-halfway point.  I saw the photographer so I tried to make it look like I was running strong.  Turns out I just looked goofy.  At least I was smiling--not looking bad enough to make it to the Seriously Ugly Race Pics site. Thank goodness. I know most people are hyper critical of themselves, but now looking at these pictures, I'm pretty sure I run with my chin pushed in.  I don't have a super defined chin, but I DO have one.  But for some reason I appeared to have lost it during this 5k. C'est la vie.

When I got to this point the second time around, my speedy boyfriend was there cheering me on and telling me I was almost at my goal.  I suppose that is one good thing about having a fast boyfriend, he can finish the race and then be there to support you!

 Although I have run a 5k in 27 minutes on my own training runs, I have been struggling the past few weeks with endurance and energy, so my goal for this race was under 30 minutes.  I was averaging around 9:30-9:40 minute miles.  I sprinted the last 0.1 so that I could make my time.  I finished at 29'29".  Not as fast as I'd like, but I have to keep remembering b a b y  s t e p s.  I have my whole life to get faster. 

Accidentally turned off my Garmin so my 4th lap is all funky. 

After the race Brandon and I waited around for the award ceremony since he was getting an award.  I try not to feel this way, but I get a tad jealous of those girls who win their age group awards.  I sound like a bitter old whiner but I used to be fast back in the day (albeit at shorter distances in track).  My body looks the same, but it isn't the same because I am much slower.  I just hope that one day I can get back some of that speed that I feel I have lost over the past..gah...8 years?  There is a chance that I won't get it back though even with more experience, and I need to be happy with whatever pace I find myself at.

Post-race myspace shot of my outfit.  I was really proud of my selection as far as layering.  I wore my nike running tights, a lululemon cool racerback, my target c9 running mittens, my lululemon "what the fluff" earwarmers, and then a very thin avia long sleeved tech shirt.  I also wore my new running shoes and they felt great! (Same pair as before but I think pink put some extra pep in my step). 

Did you run any races this weekend? 

Do you ever turn into the green-eyed monster when you are around a group of runners much faster than yourself? 

10k Training: Week 9

Weeeeek 9 is over. Week 9 was hard!!  I'm going to do this recap a little differently because I have come to accept that I will not be following the day-by-day guide, but instead, am at least trying to get most of the workouts done at some point during the week. My week:

Monday

Did nothing! Still tired from the bike/run with Brandon

Tuesday

Ran: 3.01 miles with a few walk breaks. 

Splits: 

Miles 1 & 2 @ 8'30" pace (then Walk)

Mile 3 @ 9'17" pace

Also did a Cardio H2O class and biked on the recumbant bike for 10 miles. 

Wednesday

Biked at the gym. 15 miles

Thursday

Ran: 3.00 miles at 9'46" pace on gym treadmill

Friday

Biked at the gym. About 10 miles

Saturday

Ran: 3.1 miles at 9'30" pace for the Earth, Wind, Fire 5k (recap to come!). I am going to call this my "hills" workout because the course had about a mile of incline.  Then biked 13.5 miles next to Brandon at the gym while he ran. I'm getting sick of the indoor biking for sure. 

Sunday

Ran: 6.2 miles at 10'18" pace for my long run--did it on the gym treadmill at my apartment complex. I had a little knee pain...which I almost always do. But I otherwise felt excellent! Very proud of myself for reaching this milestone. 

How was your week of training ?