41/40 - no internet, craziness

So my internet is officially non-existant like it was this summer.  And this week is so busy I have zero time to coffee-shop blog, but I stopped in anyway tonite because I needed to do some other stuff, I didn't want y'all not to be updated! ;)

Ok, running first.  Hmmm, not terrible, but not great.  Yesterday I did my normal recovery thing- 11 miles split into 5 at 4am, and 6 post bakery and teaching.  The morning run felt great- my fastest early morning run yet, 8:02 pace.  It was so freeing to fly through the dark streets as I hadn't done *that* early of a run in ages.  After work, I decided not to sit in traffic on the freeway and instead got some work done, drove one mile from my school to a random Meijer, parking-lot changed, and was off.  I ran up to the bank, cashed a check, and kept running- laughing at the cars that were actually moving slower than I was running!  This run didn't feel 'effortless' per say, but fairly good at 7:44 pace.  It was nice to drive home at 7pm and not have to sit in traffic too, plus have my run done.  Then I crashed by 9pm after being up since 3:45am.

Today, I hit up a good, hilly 10 miles this morning.  Down to campus and back out.  Campus is getting busier as classes are starting soon.  My legs never felt great, but not too bad either.  I think it was 8:20 pace or so.  This afternoon I busted out of work to try to beat traffic, but no such luck.  It is 95 degrees here, so I decided to hit up some trails to do a few miles of shakeout but ended up getting stuck in more traffic to get to the trails.  Then, once I got changed and headed off, I realized at the trailhead about 1/2 mile from my car that the trails were closed!?! WTF.  Yeah.  So I ran 4 miles basically around in circles on this short trail and up this cliff and back down.  8:10 pace, so not terrible.  My legs were stiff.

So life stuff.  Yeah, like I said before, this week is crazy.  My tomorrow is complete madness.  Bakery at 5am, teaching a long day, squeezing in a run, then rushing to get all ready (at my parents' house =closer) for "Parent's Night"from 8pm-9pm where I have to look teacher-y and legit even after being at work all day.  Yeah, wish me luck with that.  Then drive home.  Oye.

School is good, but wild.  My students are extremely energetic and I'm really trying to do a good job this year.  Which is causing more stress and work for me.  But in a good way, I guess because it means I care.  We'll see how long I can keep it up!

Ok, gotta run and pack the 1000 outfits I need for the day ahead tomorrow!

42- caught up....for now.

Today was totally the day I've been dreaming about for....weeks....I got a chance to catch up on stuff and deep clean my apartment, as well as pack up and actually feel ready for the week.  As in, all my prep is done for all 5 days, yay, plus my apartment looks great and is complete with fresh sheets and towels (which doesn't happen nearly as much as it should....)  And I cooked a local organic chicken I bought from a farmer at the market yesterday.  So I have meat for the whole week!  Or atleast a few days....And I slept for 12 hours.  Double what I've gotten the last week per night.  nicccce.

Basically, all is going well- except running.  I took this week super-easy, including *gasp* a couple of days off, and decided today just to do a 'run' not a 'long run.'  But it was bad.  8 miles and the last two seriously were torture.  I don't know how I've gone so downhill in the last week or two, but I have.  And I'm freaking out.  I only have 6 weeks and I feel like I've gained nothing from my training and am worse off than ever.  And it sucks.  And I don't know what to do anymore.  I'm going to jump back on my training schedule tomorrow, but my confidence is way down at this point.  We will see how it goes.....

Tomorrow marks day 1 of my 4 bakery shifts this week on top of teaching.  So its 6am-10am bakery, 10am-11am drive, 11:15am-4:45pm teach.  Then, I'm going to try to make all my copies at school after work and probably run around there.  Then drive home when traffic is clear so I can maintain my sanity!  Ha, we will see if that happens too!

I'm out! After a productive day, I'm going to read and relax before the craziness begins!

43 - i got nothing part 2.

Yeah, I'm a bad blogger.  I'm just too tired to write anything.  Working 4:30am-5pm today was tiring, but fun.  I actually love the market, such a good vibe.

I will write more tomorrow, I promise.  For now, I'm off to bed and SLEEPING IN!  My weekend is finally here!

44- i got nothing.

My brain is fried from being up super early (3:45am), working both jobs, and trying to actually be productive this evening so I don't have to prep alll day on my one-day weekend Sunday.  I think I'll just leave it at that and go to bed.  It may be only 7:30pm, but the alarm is set for 3:30am tomorrow morning......

Happy Weekend! :)

45- True Life: I'm addicted to the Kroger 10 for 10

For those of you that don't have the pleasure of having a Kroger grocery store by you, allow me to enlighten you about the magic that is the 10 for 10.  This means that something in the store is on sale 10 item for 10$.  Although I get the majority of all of the food I eat now at the Farmer's market and I buy about 95% local, I am hopelessly addicted to grapes.  So, today as I went into Kroger for something I need for my class tomorrow, I got ridiculous excited because grapes were 10lbs for 10$.  So I bought 6lbs of grapes.  For 6$.  I'm hoping that they atleast last me a week, but I'm not counting on it....

In other news, I survived my first day!  I was actually pretty fun, although tiring.  I'm teaching 5 classes and my voice is seriously sore from yammering on about syllabi and class policies and such.  I'm just really glad to have it behind me.  My classes are much bigger than last year (by private school standards) so I have lots of names to learn and more management (ugh) to do.  But, all the kids seem decent so I'm pretty pumped.  Plus, I like being around them.  It's a lot of work, but at the same time I sometimes laugh about the fact that they are paying me!  Unfortunately, school goes later this year until 4:45 rather than 4:30 so my just-bearly-beating-traffic of last year doesn't happen and I get stuck in horrendous traffic now getting home.  I'm not good at traffic.  Or being patient.  The commute is already 40 minutes on a perfect day, and now it is another hour to get home.  Which is a bummer.

And running.  I did that today.  This morning actually.  Felt bad still.  boo.  I dont' know what's up with me...

Tomorrow = crazy.  I'm up at 3:45 to get to the bakery before 5am to work a short shift until 9am to be teaching by 10am. And then run after. Atleast it is Friday, which is really my Thursday because I gotta market it up on Saturday.  Good times.

I'm out to prep and pack all my crap up for the day.

46- tomorrow's the day!

After 3 days of meetings, we finally have students tomorrow!  I'm ready, but nervous.  I've never had a 'first day of school' as a teacher because I came one month into the year last year.  Plus, my 7th graders scare the crap out of me because I SO don't know middle school.  Oh well, it will feel good to get started.  Today was orientation for students, and I must say it was nice to see some of my students from last year.  When they ran up to me and were super excited it was a pretty good feeling.  Just sayin'.

Anddd, since I came to my parents house to download music (long story) and am staying tonite (closer to work anyway), and my mom came home from work needing to go work out, I went for a SHORT run with her today.  Plus lifting alittle.  I'm hoping to resume regularly scheduled running and I'm hoping the last couple of days will make me refreshed and ready to go.

Ok, I gotta go get ready for tomorrow!  I'm nervous but excited!

47- gotta know when to hold 'em

Well, I took the advice of my two commentors (as well as the advice that my own intuition was already giving me) and didn't run today.  Honestly, I didn't like the fact that I have been feeling like a slave to my training schedule.  Like if I don't stick to it exactly, I'm a 'slacker' or a bad runner.  I didn't like the OCD-ness I was feeling.  Since I began training 8+ weeks ago, my only rest day is when I worked for 12 hours, then drove 4 hours up-north.  And, although I don't think I need alot of rest days and I do like the feeling of a 'running streak' I don't feel like my head has been in a healthy place the last week or so and has caused me to be a complete slave to my milage.  So, today I didn't run.  And, I don't think I will tomorrow either.  That way I will for sure not hit my milage total for the week and will just have to get over it!  I'm alittle less than 7 weeks out from Chicago and I KNOW I've put in the base work.  Now, I just need to fine tune my legs.  But really this 'break' (ie 2 days) has about 10% to do with how I'm feeling physically, and 90% about my mental state right now.  Running is my favorite thing in the world.  I plan to keep it that way for as long as possible. :)

But enough of that ramble...

This was all decided at about 3:30am, when I knew my alarm would be going off at 4:30am for a run.  So, I reset it for the 'late' hour of 6:30.  Nice.  Today was professional development #2.  I actually got really physched to teach today.  I got the new books for my 7th graders and something about getting to work with brand new text books gets the nerd in me all excited!  I'm actually really nervous about teaching middle school.  My only experience last year was teaching girls middle school PE once a week.  I'm totally not good at interacting with little kids and I'm having a hard time getting the planning down (ie they have limited study/notetaking skills to work with.)  Anyway, me and the other science teacher talked and I'm feeling a bit better about stuff.  Plus, I'm much more organized now.  Still alot to do, but I feel like I'm clearing a path and have a direction!

One more day of meetings tomorrow, before it all begins!  Students arrive on Thursday!  Yikes!

Hope everyone has a good night!

48- and so it begins...

Short and sweet tonite, because honestly I'm just not feeling it...

First day back at work today.  No students, just professional development.  Honestly, it was good.  It felt good to run, get cleaned up, put on a nice outfit, "do my hair" ie not ponytail it, and drive on the freeway for 45 minutes with my cup of coffee to my 'real job.'  Not that I don't love the bakery.  It just makes me feel more legit to be a teacher.  Is that bad?  Plus, I just roll out of bed in my sweats and go there.  It felt kind of good to actually care about my appearence.  Although the day itself was fairly boring it was nice to see everyone again and catch up.  I don't have any close teacher friends at my school, mostly because I'm so young/single/am SO different than them, but I do have a few acquaitences that were nice to see.  Plus, we basically just sat there all day which I didn't mind because both my jobs (ie bakery and actually teaching) are so active.  It was nice just to stare at the speakers for a few hours.....which is good because it will all be happening again tomorrow.  Plus, I got my pic taken for the staff board and it looked really good! :)  Just sayin.....

So how about running? Yeah, I'm honestly really not feeling it.  This morning was another pre-dawn run because I had to be at school at 8:30.  I ran 'fast' for pre-dawn, 6 miles at 8:17 pace.  I usually never break 8:30 pace because it is so early, I haven't eaten, and it is pitch dark.  So that was nice.  The last thing I wanted to do was run again when I got home at 4:30 though.  I really had to push myself out the door.  Plus, my stomach was killing me and it was windy and humid.  I did my 'country' 6 mile route where upon I saw 5 road kills in the first 2 miles.  Nice.  My Garmin died at mile 6, but I think it was about a 7:52 pace.  It felt hard the whole time because mentally I wasn't there.  I don't know what is going on lately with my running.  But it needs to stop.  Any advice out there? 

Atleast 12 miles of recovery is in the books for today.  I got alot of my stuff organized tonite too at my apartment since I still hadn't unpacked from the time up north.  So that is good.  I'm off to bed soon so I can do it all over again tomorrow....

49-finallllly blog time!

Oh man, it has been a whirlwind of a few days.  Between working and running and trying to get my life in order (fail) I have had zero time.  I hate to backtrack with life, so I'll try to make it quick....

Friday, I had to work 6-1.  I decided to do both of my 'recovery' runs after work.  The first at 1pm was terrible.  It was so hot and after about 2 miles, my legs died.  It was only supposed to be 6 miles, but I did 8 because that is my loop from the bakery. 8:16 pace felt like torture!  I seriously had to stop at 7.5 miles and debated if I could run a half mile!  Ugh.  Not good.  Later that night, I stopped on my way home at a popular park and ran 6 miles.  It was cooler and fairly scenic, so it wasn't quite as bad.  8:09 pace, which was fine for recovery.  Saturday was rough with everything from start to finish.  As much as I love working at the market, it is a 4:45am-5pm day that forces me to run later when I'm exhausted.   And have a long run to do the next morning.  Yeah, not ideal.

So today.  Long run.  I actually did something I haven't done alllll summer- I got up early to do a long run.  My running friends were running a race at 8:00am in a neighboring town and I haven't seen them in forever (especially Mike, who I train with), so I decided to run there.  I left my alarm set for 3:50am from yesterday, and got up then and was out the door at 4:50ish (I need time to eat a muffin and drink 1000x coffee).  The race was exactly 10 miles from my house, so I first decided to do a 10 mile loop back to my apartment to change my shirt and drink, then run to the race.  My normal 10 mile loop is out in the country (no lights) so I did a new-ish loop into downtown and campus, then back out.  It was pitch black the entire time which wasn't too bad because when the run came out about .5miles into the second loop it felt like I was just starting!  Despite the fact that I was wearing my ipod but never turned it on (security blanket) and that I was running crazy slow, the first loop went by fast.  I took about 2 minutes to pound some crack..aka blue powerade zero and change my shirt, and was off again.  The next 10 miles felt decent too, although even with the sun up my pace was slow.  My legs didn't feel tired at all until the last 2 miles which I think is just because I wanted to be done!  And, knowing that I didn't have to run back was nice!

I got to the race and couldn't find any of my friends, including Mike!  I had a momentary freakout because I didn't bring my phone (or anything) and I was 10 miles from home and as much as I love running, my legs were in no mood to make it a 30 mile day!  I did find them eventually and got to watch and catch up with Mike, which was good.  And, he drove me home. :)  It was pretty insane to be done with a 20 miler before 8am.  Insane in a good way.  After standing around for forever in a soaking shirt, I was freezing and so I immediately got in a hot shower, ate the world's most delicious peach, and passed out in bed for 2 hours.  And woke up starving.  Yeah, post-run sleep trumped post-run eats today. 

So now I'm busy trying to get my life in order.  Tomorrow is D-day.  Back to teaching full-time.  Meetings M-W, then students come on Thursday.  Even though it is a law in Michigan that school can't start until after Labor Day (to promote tourism), we are so lucky that we are a private school as is above the law......Plus, we get like 1000 random holidays off, so I can't complain.  I'm ready to get going.  My life will just have to get in order piece-meal. 

Here we go........

50- tomorrowwww

is when regular blogging will resume.  For now, it is 7:30pm, and i'm going to bed....

51- too tired...

...to blog.  Got in 14 miles today around work and such.  They were bad, again.  Blahh...I'm exhausted and I gotta do the market starting pre - 5am.  Perhaps some details tomorrow.....

52- home again

Well, I did it.  I'm back home in my apartment with a mountain of cleaning and unpacking to do.  Living out of a clothes basket at 2 houses all summer has left my apartment in shambles so I'm anxious to get it all sorted out!  Too bad I have to work the next two days....

Running wise, it was not so great of a day.  I got up EARLY to do my mid-long run of 15 miles up north, only to find there was storming and horizontal rain happening with huge winds.  Boo.  I waited it out as long as I could, but by the time I got out there, I knew I would only have time for 10.  Which worked out because the 10 miles felt like 15..lol.  My legs would not fire and were sooo tired. (hey, that rhymes!)  Plus, I was super hungry before I started, and even though I ate something I was hungry by 4 miles in and stayed that way the whole time.  By the last mile, I seriously felt like I was walking and felt hungry, thirsty, and zapped of all energy.  My pace ended up being in the 8:40s which didn't make me too happy.  Plus, I was looking forward to only having one run today, but now I knew I still had to get in 5 more miles....

Fast-forward my drive, unloading and it was 4pm.  And 90 degrees.  So I headed out.  It felt good to be on my old streets again, as the routes up north were kind of getting old.  I did my five mile loop which felt equally terrible as this morning.  Atleast I managed a 7:58 pace.  I rushed over to the Farmer's Market before it closed so that I could stock up.  The reason I had to be back here was my dad was in town with business and he was stopping by to help me with some stuff around my apartment.  Because I'm 24 and am not currently seeing anyone, I need to still rely on my dad for stuff-that-you-need-a-guy-to-help-you-with.  Plus, I got to see him. :)  Anddd, once we got done with everything and it was 8pm, and my dad just so happened to have running clothes with him, we did a quick shake out 2 miler.  I can never turn down an extra run, especially not with my Pops!  Surprisingly, my legs felt the best on this run, even though it rounded out 17 miles for the day.  I'm looking forward to a couple days of low-ish milage now before my Sunday long run.  I kind of shuffled my days this week in my training schedule so that I could get the milage early in the week and have less to squeeze in on my early work days.  My legs are paying for it though....

Off to read and set the alarm for 4:45am...ugh....

53- crazy busy + 18 miles

Whew!  I'm just sitting down at almost 10pm to blog- today has been crazy busy.  I'm leaving tomorrow to OFFICIALLY go home from up north, and will probably not be back for a very long time (besides maybe a day or two at Labor Day if I can sneak up between jobs)  Between shucking and poaching a boat load of corn to freeze (Michigan sweet corn is almost done :( cleaning the entire house and running errands for my parents so that things are good here when they come back, packing up all my crap, and of course running- I have been going all day!  It will make my morning tomorrow easier though, because stuff will be ready to go and cleaned up so all I have to do is run, shut the house down, and get on the road.  I am so sad about leaving and summer ending that I can't really bear to dwell on it right now.  I just need to move on......

So about running.  Yeah, not so hot today.  I think that although it has been fun to do my evening runs faster and I pretty much like just going with the flow pace-wise, I am not really using them to their full purpose- ie: recovery.  ie: 8:30-8:45 pace, not 7:25-7:40 pace as they have been.  This morning, I think that they caught up to me.  I did 12 miles with 1x2mile repeat at 7:13 pace.  I wanted to do a second repeat, but honestly, I was 6 miles into the run and my legs were dead.  I kept stopping and trying to stretch them, but nothing.  It turned out to still be a decent run- 8:06 pace overall, with the last mile at 7:42.  Just not a great workout.  Tonite, I did another 6 miler in another small town because I had to do an errand there anyway.  Pretty effortless run, at 7:55 pace with the last mile at 7:30.  I'm glad that I'm atleast doing better/working hard to negative split because that is a huge weakness of mine.  And sub-8s are feeling nice and comfortable up here where it is hilly and everything.  All in all, a decent 18 mile day, but not a great one. 

Ok, I gotta finish this cleaning up so I can get to bed!  Friday my life of 2 jobs, 6 day workweeks, and 14 hour days begin.....I miss up north already and I haven't even left!

54- PSA

My PSA tonite is this: do not go to Border's and Target for 'quick errands' before your evening run.  Those two stores are total time sucks, and you will be in them for twice as long as expected.  Especially if you are easily distracted like me.  Allow me to explain...

After a lovely morning/early afternoon consisting of a nice windy 10 mile run (8:01 pace, not bad) and prep work (half way done with Physics planning, woo hoo!) I decided to go into the 'city' to do some errands and my second run there.  I went to Border's for one book (Animal, Vegetable, Miracle) and came out about 30 minutes later and with 2 books and a magazine.  I just start wandering and looking at books and before I know it, time has flown by!  Then, I went across to Target to get JUST a cooler.  My current cooler isn't very sturdy and is old and gross so I wanted to get a new one before the year starts.  Let me tell you, I don't understand how people operate with just lunch boxes or bags.  I need a serious family sized cooler to carry all my food.  I feel silly, but I've decided this is because:
a) I am a tree hugger and pack everything in reusable containers which take up more room than plastic baggies
b) I am OCD and hate packing stuff already assembled (ie salads/sandwiches get too soggy, so I like to pack the components seperately and put together before eating
c) I am gone sometimes for 14 hours from my apartment so there is atleast 2 meals and 2 snack to pack
d) I'm a runner.  I run around 100 miles a week right now.  I'm hungry alot.  I eat alot.  Duh.
Sooo, in the end, I found a decent cooler to help with the forementioned points.  Unfortunately, I also got distracted by the school supplies section.  Yeah, I'm kind of obsessed with school supplies.  The best part about being a teacher, is that I still have a reason to buy them! 
At this point it was well after 5pm.  I pulled into a road side park at the opposite end of town, but honestly I wasn't feeling running from there.  So, I just started driving and I realized that a neighboring small town that I had never run in was only 10 miles away.  And I knew the drive was pretty.  (think lots of rolling hills full of cherry orchards with Lake Michigan on the side).  So I went.  If you are a reader, you know by now I'm pretty random and spontaneous with my running.

I love the small towns up here, because they are so proud of their sports' teams.  Pulling into town, there was a sign that said "Elk Rapids:  Home of the 1997-98 Class 4 Soccer State Champs".  Lol.  Over 10 years old, and their still proud!  That was actually a fairly recent sign- I've seen one's in towns that date back to the 80s!  Crowning glory I tell ya...

So, I pulled into a marina and was off.  I was stiff at first, so I decided just to chill out.  I have a good knack for finding my way through towns and making loops even when I don't know the streets.  This route was a good one- through the downtown area, along the water, along the main road, and back through downtown.  It felt nice and chill, my stiff legs loosened up and I felt good by the end.  I felt even better when I got done and and saw I had hit 7:39 pace on an easy feeling run! :)  And, my first mile was 8:04 and the splits pretty much were negative from there, with the last two miles at 7:28 and 6:57!! respectively.  Happy days.  Then, I proceded to find this cool little secluded part of the beach where a river hit lake Michigan that was perfect for a swim.  And I had it all to myself!

At this point it was late and I had to high-tail it back to town to go to my favorite hippy coop one last time to pick up some things.  They were almost closed, but I grabbed the essentials and was off.  I am usually a BYO-bag girl (yay tree hugging) but I forgot today.  This is the type of place that gives you the stink eye for that!  The bagger packed all my groceries in one bulging paper bag.  Now, I'm all about saving the earth, but I'm not all about my $100000/lb organic grapes getting mushed, thank you.....

Since it was well past dinner time, my only option was to get Fro Yo again...obviously.  Which I am going to eat in about 4seconds.  I keep telling myself that I need to stop eating it for dinner every night, but it turns into 'starting tomorrow.'  Honestly, I eat really healthy/whole foods other than that, but something about settling in on the couch with fro yo.....comfort in a cup!

Ok, I'm off!  I can rest easy after a productive day, including 16 miles total that averaged well below 8min pace.  I feel fortunate tonite! :)

55- in a funk

It's that time of year- reality is about to hit fast.  That thought has put me in a mental funk today.  Don't get me wrong, I love my job(s) and being busy and my life, but the eb and flow of my life is such that this time of year makes me a bit melancholy.  And it sort of all hit me today.  I have a couple more days up north but then-wham- that's it.  Over.  It is hard for me to get back up here once I start teaching because I work Monday-Saturday then between both jobs.  And although I didn't 'live' up here this summer as I have summer's past, it is still hard to leave.  Oh bother.  I'll get over it....

On to the good stuff- running!  Monday = recovery day as usual.  Today was the normal - 12 miles split into 6 morning and 6 evening.  The morning ones were uneventful, 8:06 pace which felt good.  I then proceded to prep for like 4 hours straight, which was awesome although progress is slow.  I knew I had to get out there again for my second run and honestly, I was itching to get up and move.  I do not do well sitting still for more than 20 minutes!  I also have an OCD about not going anywhere in the car all day.  So, my mom suggested that I go into the town nearby and run along the water for a change of scenery, and then pick up fro yo for dinner from a new place (she knows me so well!)  The run ended up being AMAZING.  It is super windy here, but otherwise the temp is great.  I felt decent, and, since I don't look at my Garmin until the end, didn't know my pace but figured it was just under 8min pace.  The route was beautiful, out along the bay and back.  I tried to pick it up at the end to insure if I was close to 8min pace, I would get under it.  So, it was pretty surprising/pleasing when I looked at my Garmin and saw 7:24 pace! :)  My splits were good for me too; 7:35, 7:26, 7:30, 7:19, 7:27, 7:09.  I. was. pumped.  Because it actually felt free/easy.  Finally, a run that went well!

I celebrated by going swimming at the beach where I parked.  It was mostly empty because it is Monday and the weather was windy/chillier.  Then, I picked up my fro yo (mocha flavored..mmm..) for dinner and brought it back home.  Hopefully it is as good as the fro yo from my normal place..I'll report back on that one when I'm done!

Hoping to pull out of this sad spot I'm in right now.  Transition is hard.  But having a good run makes everything better, right? :)

56- more of a rest day, than a rest day!

Today was my 'long run' day- but a cut back long run.  It was interesting in that today felt more like a rest day than my actual 'rest day' yesterday, just because I did hardly anything besides run!  Slept in, went running at 11am, swim, napping/reading in bed, chatting with my sis on phone, and the 'big errand' taking the recyling into town. And of course picking up fro yo for dinner- always post long run.  Ready to be consumed when I am finished posting.

So the run. It was a good one.  Not because it was particularly far (it wasn't, only 16 miles).  Not because it was particularly fast (it wasn't).  But because it was sooo hard mentally to get out the door (hense the 11am start time.)  I don't know what it was but I just was NOT feeling it today, even though that is totally lame because it was such a short long run.  I was considering taking a *gasp* another rest day, or just doing a short run.  Butt, thanks to my mom helping me craft a new-er route, and agreeing to meet me for the last 4 miles, I set off.  My dad ran the first 1.5 with me, then turned around.  The weather was much more agreeable- although still mid-80s and sunny, less humid and very windy.  I.e. I didn't end the run drenched.  It actually went by fast and I felt strong the whole time and have little fatigue later in the day.  Which is a good thing.  So, although it was not epically great, it was still better and satisfying.

The weather made it perfect for opening the windows and letting the breeze blow through the upstairs.  Hense an afternoon reading/running journaling/sleep session.  Perfect. I've missed that refreshed feeling after a summer of sweating/having the AC on.

I'm excited to get back into more intense training this week. I feel refreshed mentally for running after lower milage and the mental 'low' this morning.  And of course, a few more days of low-responsibility up north are lovely before my life starts moving 1000 miles an hour again with workx2.  Although I am excited to start getting my regular teaching salary again. ;)  Not too many people are excited about a teachers' salary, but after part time bakery working this summer, my standards are set pretty low...lol.

:) :) :)

57- once every 51 days...

...you should take a rest day.  As much as I feel like a slacker, after 51 days straight of running, I had to take today off.  I was up and going at 4am, at work by 5am, off work by 5pm and up north by 9:30pm.  No. time. to. run.  I'm thinking of it as my halfway point of the training cycle.  The only downfall is although it was techincally a 'rest day' I don't feel like it because I'm exhausted from the physical work on the market and driving all day and being up early.

Oh well, atleast I'm back up north!  Doesn't even feel like I left!  Long run tomorrow...

58- home and back

I seriously almost forgot to blog tonite!  What would the world do without an update from me..lol.

Somehow magically when I arrived at my apartment, my computer was picking up bootleg internet from somewhere.  So, I didn't have to crash the coffee shop tonite!  Yay!  I drove back because I'm working my first 'solo' market tomorrow for the Bakery.  It promises to be a long day with a 4am wakeup call, 5am start to my shift, packing up the van and driving to the market (45 minutes), unpacking + market from 7am-3pm, and then repacking, driving back, and unpacking everything at the bakery.  Then, the kicker is the I am going to go right up north from there, so another 4 hours in the car, after just doing it today.  Blah.

But enough about that, honestly it shouldn't be too bad.

Today's run(s) on the other hand- bad.  I feel like I haven't had a really solid run in a couple of weeks and just feel TIRED.  Which is lame because I haven't been working and although I've been doing stuff up north, it is no where near my normal level of busy.  I tried to beat the heat by running 'early' at 8am (rather than 10am as I have been) but honestly, it still felt terrible out.  13 miles at a lame pace that I just wanted done.  I was dripping wet in the end and these two women looked at me like I was gross/crazy/weird as I stood ringing out my shirt and shorts at the top of our driveway leaving a puddle.  Classy, I am.

I then proceded to drive drive drive.  I had about 30 minutes when I got back to my apartment before leaving for an appointment so I squeezed in a quick 2 miler on the treadmill in the air conditioning.  + a quick swim.  Good call.

In other news, my back is really messed up.  Ironically, it hurts the least when I run, and the most when I sit/lay/sleep/drive for 4 hours.  I'm hoping it gets better soon!  I need to be pain free and I need to ski more!

Ok, I'm already up much too late for a 4am wakeup.  Tomorrow might (gasp!) end up being a rest day, simply because I have zero time to run and would have to get up at 2am or something crazy to get it in.  I've run for the past 51 days straight, so I hate the thought of a rest day, but alas, it happens!

I'm off!  Have a good night!

59- 15 miles + my best ski ever!

This is by far the hottest summer we have had in Michigan in awhile.  I'm not complaining because I love the hot weather, but for running it has been alittle rough.  This morning, I did 12 miles- 8ish alone around our lake, then 4 with my mom.  My lap around the lake felt super-sluggish.  I'm not sure if it was the heat or the light speedwork from yesterday, but it was rough.  My Garmin died halfway through and I was hitting about 8:17 pace up until then but it felt hard.  Running with my mom = better.  Time always goes by fast when I am with her!  Then, tonite I did a 3 mile shakeout because I didn't have much time but wanted to get 15 miles for the day in.  It was opressively hot and sunny, but the run was so short that it didn't really matter.

My mom and I busted out lots of cleaning and errands in the daytime.  My dad ended up getting back up here from downstate just a few minutes before sundown.  The lake was glass-perfect for skiing.  I messed up my back the last time I skiied when he was here (I think Monday?) so I wasn't sure if I wanted to go.  Buttt, I lack any self control when it comes to being on the boat, with my ski, and the lake being glassy-flat.  Plus, I had gone thru all the work of uncovering the boat and getting it out of the hoist so it was ready when my dad got there.  You know where this is headed.....

It KILLED getting up because of my back.  But, once I was up I was like 'screw it' and just went for it.  My skiing was GOOD.  It was nice to have a good run becasue I really haven't been able to get in consistant enough skiing this summer to improve.  Tonite, I totally got in the groove though.  I knew it was a good run when my dad (who was driving) kept giving me thumbs up after my cuts, and my mom kept mouthing 'stop it!' because she's a mom and didn't want me going too hard.  Anyway, it was a great, long run that left me out of breathe and smiling at the end.  My idea of a great way to end the day!  And, my dad had a great run too!

15 miles + good skiing = good times.

I'm off to bed early-ish, so I can try YET AGAIN to get up earlier to beat the heat.  Plus, I gotta jet home tomorrow to work the Market again on Saturday.   Busy, busy!

60- speedwork, what!??!

I did it- I FINALLY forced myself to do legit speedwork today, on my own.  My training plan is pretty light in speedwork until the last 8 weeks, and I've been following my plan closely so I haven't "had" to do speedwork until now per say, but at the same time I'm also really scared of it.  It's just the idea of failure and of not being able to hit my paces that freaks me out.  But, today I bit the bullet and did the perscribed workout.  Slowly, but I did it!

On tap, 10 miles with 5x800 repeats with jog rest.  I started with 3.5 miles of warmups along the roads/hills.  It was super hot as it has been, but I'm pretty much used to it by now and the sun wasn't out, so it was nice.  I ended my warm up at a road nearby the hugs one side of the lake and is alittle under a mile long.  And fairly flat.  Which is rare for around here.  I set my Garmin to do the workout for me, so I just listened for its' beeps. I ended up doing the repeats at tempo pace, around 3:28 per half mile.  It would have been better to have them closer to my 5K pace, but honestly I was really proud just to do it!  1.5 mile cooldown after rounded out my 10 miles.  Then, I preceded to ring out my shirt and shorts.  Yeah, hottt.  I left a puddle...lol.

Tried to get some prep done this afternoon, but my mom and I were not good at focusing.  We ended up watching Oprah (ha) then going for a 4 mile walk.  I had some frustrating things happen regarding teaching (regarding my prepping) and I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed with it all right now.  I was hoping to be more on top of things and I'm not.  Less than 2 weeks until I start, and two week exactly until the students start.  Yikess....

Time to watch mindless TV and chill.... :)

61- good day

I won't go into details about my day, because I don't want to bore y'all.  But, it was a good one!  Lots of time with my mom and fun purchases!  I love vacation.

Run was a good one too, even though it was SO hot.  Seriously.  I was wringing out my shorts and shirt by the end of 10 miles.  Did the first 6 alone at 7:57 pace, then the last 4 with my mom.  Other than the hot-ness, it was a good run.  I'm enjoying the low milage of this cut back week for now.

I'm off for sommore chill time!  Gotta soak it in while I can! :)

62- exhausted

recovery run.  8 hours in the sun.  boating. swimming.  grilled chicken.

yes, it was a good day. :)

63- I have the best parents.

Woo hoo!  I hit a milage PR this week and am SO proud.  103 miles.  Yessir.

But backing up....

The day began with a 20 miler.  Unfortunately, this put me out of the morning ski rotation.  I hate to pass up a ski, but it was already 10am and I knew if I didn't get out and at it, I would pay.  Dearly. 

The plan was to sacrifice boredom in favor of convience and no-brainer-ness.  So, I was to run 3x around the neighboring lake to ours.  Plus, a mile and a half to get to the road and same back.  So, I ran the first loop + some to the boat launch.  9.3 miles.  My pops then met me up at the launch and ran around the lake with me for a second time (just under 6 miles).  This also allowed me to drink a bit.  Although cloudy, it was super humid and my entire self was dripping sweat.  Grooosss.  Running with my pops, the sun came out, making the first half of the loop hot and full of traffic.  Soon enough, we were back at the launch.  My mom met us there and her and my pops switched off.  My mom and I then completed the third loop + the 1.5 miles back home (just under 5 miles total.)  In total = 20 miles.  This was my fastest 'long run' up north so I'm happy.  I am so appreciative of my parents tailoring their schedules and their running to help me with mine.  It made the run so much more mentally effortless and I cherish times to run with them.  I am also lucky they are so kick ass that they can keep up! ;P

Unfortunately, my skin is not doing great.  The ugly truth is that I am pretty much chafed everywhere.  My shorts were soaking wet and rubbed the front and back of my legs raw.  As well as the waistband on my back.  Plus, my sports bra is basically tatooed onto me with red scars.  Not cool.  And the blisters on my feet are getting blisters.  It's all worth it though. ;)

Solution: spend the afternoon in the water.  We took the boat out into the middle of the lake to listen to Jimmy Buffet (lol) and float around and tan.  However, after about 5 minutes of attempted tanning I had to abandon ship (literally!) because all of the chafing was burning in the sun.  Instead, I strapped on a lifejacket, grabbed our tow rope, and my pops pulled me behind the boat at about 5mph.  Felt. so. good. On my legs and my skin.  Perfect way to spend the afternoon!

This up coming week is a 'cut back' week with my training cycle.  Milage drops back a bit after the last 3 weeks right around 100 miles.  We'll see how it goes!

I'm off! :)

64- you know it's summer when....

- your morning starts with a sunrise 10 miler
- the big trip of the morning consists of attending and strolling through a local Art Fair, complete with fresh squeezed lemonade
- lunch is eaten on the deck
- an hour bike ride followed by jumping in the waves constitutes afternoon activity
- productivity involves working with all the windows open
- fro yo = dinner of champions
- ending the night with "Mean Girls" yesss...quality TV!

Long run in the morning! :)

65- up north daze

Oh man, up north days....where do they go?

Today on tap: 18 miles, split into 14 in the morning and a shakeout for later.  The 14 went decent.  The temps were a bit cooler.  I did the first 9 alone at 8:04 pace.  I was 'racing' my virtual partner on my Garmin at the end.  Yeah, I'm a dork.  My mom met me at the top of the drive and we continued on the 5 mile 'hill route.'  Good times as usual.  Despite the fact that my mom and I live together right now up north and are together alot, there is seriously not a moment of silence on our runs.  We talk constantly.  I love it.

Then, somehow the afternoon slipped away.  Between boiling and de-cobbing a million ears of 'the best' corn with my dad for freezing, trying to fix an old computer, and falling asleep in the hammock (so breezy and perfect out!) it was 4pm and time for my shakeout.  I did it totally 'unplugged' with no Garmin, watch, or ipod (usually I where all three!)  It was actually really nice and freeing, and my tight legs felt better by the end.  Then, I went into the 'city' where there was a huge street sale on main street with live music and entertainment and stuff.  All of the stores had tent sales and it was fun just to wander around.  I went to the running store and saw one of my 'running mentors' and tried to work him for a good deal on shoes.  No luck, lol.  I stopped by my favorite cafe to get GF stuff, then picked up fro yo on the way home.  I justed pulled another batch of zucchini muffins out of the oven while watching really quality TV...Aka Wifeswap. 

OK, so this has totally turned into my diary of my day.  Lame.  But it was a good day!  18 miles, some relaxing, some productivity and some non-running related fun!

Peace, Love, and Running! :)

66- better, much better

Today was a much better day in the world of running for me.  I had to make up the milage of yesterday, but still use it as a 'recovery' day.  So, I knew 17 miles were on tap total for the day.  I started the day with a new route that took me to the beach, along some sand trails, and back out onto the road and to the boat launch to meet my mom.  It was great to have a new loop that ended up being about 7.5 miles and I hit an 8:08 pace, which I am pleased with since it was on trails for part of it.  My mom and I ran 4 miles on a shaded road which went by really fast.  Actually our pace was really fast which was fun.  I like to push my mom every once in awhile! ;)

Morning run 11.5 miles, done.

Then I worked.  I actually got a ton of prep done and it felt great!  My mom was out with a friend, and the house was quiet and cool and breezy, so I SO wanted to nap.  I kept telling myself 'just work 10 more minutes' and pretty soon, my mom returned and I had been focused and nap free for 2 hours!  This. is. huge.

Tonite's run happened later than anticipated, but was awesome.  I did the "hill" loop.  This loop starts off going up a mile long hill.  Actually, the street is called "Mountain Road" which generally isn't a good sign for runners.  My Garmin never fired up until the top, so I don't know how ridiculously slow my pace was.  Buttt, the next 4.5 miles after Mountain were great!  7:50, 6:37!!! (downhill), 7:21, 7:25, 7:25 for a 7:19 average!  That is the fastest I've run up here all summer, so I was pumped.

Evening run, 5.5 miles, done.

17 miles in the books, and turkey meatloaf for dinner.  Can't complain about a day like that!

I'm on a prepping roll so I'm off to tackle sommore! :)

67- *meh*

Ok, this one is a quicky for sure.

Today was a run FAIL.  Despite heading out 'early' at 8:30am, it was majorly hot and humid.  I picked a very hilly route that I've been avoiding all summer until I was more ready.  15 miles with crazy elevation changes on roads with no tree cover.  Although, it wasn't terrible, I didn't drink until 11 miles in which I found out later was too long.  The last 4 miles consist of 3 miles of a crazy uphill, followed by a steep downhill that deadends into the Bay in town.  I literally ran right into the water.  My pace wasn't great, but OK for a hilly 15.  However, my mom picked me up and as we were driving back home my stomach started KILLING me.  As in, I couldn't even sit up straight.  Total buzz kill.  It didn't get better for hours after until I finally forced myself to drink.  As it turned out, that helped tons, so I think that it was major dehydration.  Ohh summer.  I do love you still, no worries.

So because of that, and because my mom and I had to postpone our trip into the city because of my stomach, I didn't get in my 6 recovery miles tonite.  I'll have to do them tomorrow along with my recovery miles, but that's ok.  Flexibility is a good thing.  Speaking of which, I should probably go stretch for the first time in about oh, 2 months...

My mom and I got some good shopping in.  I got some skirts for work (I have to wear a skirt everyday where I work, and it is really hard to find work-appropriate skirts that fit my insanely long legs).  Plus, some other randomness that I needed.  Good times.

Ok, I'm out for reals now!  C-ya!

68- i did prep work..what!?!?!

Yup, it's true.  Today, I actually devoted a serious amount of time to getting my butt in gear prepping to teach.  And you know what?  It feels so. good.  I have my complete first unit for physics all planned, written, and printed and it is awaiting a fresh new binder to jump into!  For those who don't remember, I started teaching about a month into the school year last year at my current school, so I don't have anything for the first units in any classes (even physics which I taught last year.)  So, I'm planning those from scratch.  It just felt good to finally buckle down and get the ball rolling.  Although it is just the tip of the iceberg, it feels good to actually SEE the iceberg, and start chipping away at it!

In other news, I ran today. :) The past few weeks my training plan has been really heavy on the milage/doubles early in the week, and then less so later.  This worked out really well with my work schedule.  This week though, my schedule is more balanced, ie spread throughout the week, which works out cuz I'm not working!  Sooo, today was simply a 10 miler 'aerobic' style.  I drove to the beach, parked my car and ran the 'hilly route' home (5 miles).  My mom met me at the top of the drive, and we ran the 'flat-ish' route back.  'Flat-ish' because there is no where flat up here!  I ended the 10 with a half mile or so of barefoot running on the beach, which felt great!  Almost as great as jumping in Lake Michigan afterward!  Ahhh, mazing. 

The rest of the day was spent prepping, and sweating.  And making hommade pizza.  It is seriously hot here, my mom and I finally caved and put on the AC.  The upstairs is so hot I may have to crash in her room.  Tomorrow = lots of running + a fun trip into town with my mom.  We are trying to squeeze in all of our summer traditions before we both have to head back downstate to be teachers! 

Thanks for the comments about my random side-of-the-road running.  I don't know why, but I love it.  That's just how I roll, I guess. :)

69- up north! let the fun begin!

I'm up north at last for my vacation time!  Which means a) good times and b) actual in-home internet!  Woo hoo!

So Monday is my 'recovery' day which is almost always an 11 mile day split into 6 morning, and 5 evening.  I headed out on my 6 mile loop at about 7:30am.  I didn't think my legs were tired when I got up, but they felt TERRIBLE before making it out of my apartment complex!  I thought they would loosen up- nope.  It was pretty much me dragging myself through 6 miles at about the same pace as yesterday's long run.  Which is acceptable for a recovery run, but felt less than ideal.  So yeah. 

Then, I hopped in the car and started driving with my tired legs and all.  I was thinking about how terrible my recovery has been lately, and it was kind of bumming me out.  Plus, I knew I had to get 5 more miles in this evening, which is such a short run but was mentally killing me.  So, I did what I always do when I'm overthinking a run while driving...pull over to the side of the road and just RUN.

I was actually driving by a lake in the middle of the state that I have thought about running around before.  Confession: I have a small obsession with running around lakes.  The thought of running around a 'new' lake is slightly more exciting than it should be.  Plus, driving through mid-Michigan is pretty much the most boring place on earth, and I was falling asleep behind the wheel.  I think it is unnatural too how when I drive anywhere, I think about how it would be to run in there, and picture myself running in the location at the side of the road....yeah, I think that's weird, but true.

So anyways.....

I 'eyeballed' the lake and comparing it to our lake, I figured it couldn't be too much further than 5 miles around.  Pulled into a roadside park, roadside change....and was off!  Since my legs felt so horrible earlier (and it had only been about 4 hours since) I literally told 'them' (ie my legs) outloud that they could go as slow as they wanted.  The first few miles felt stiff, but good.  Until I looked at the lake and realized that I was running with a serious tail wind.  Yeah, that pretty much turned into a headwind on the way back....Anyway, it was so nice to have a new route and the miles really clicked by.  I just sort of kept the lake in sight on my left and picked roads that *I hoped* leg around the lake and back to my car!  I knew my pace had to be wicked slow because of the wind and my slowness in general, so I decided in my head that I was running 8:45's.  The lake was great in that it had a path right along the water for much of it, unlike our lake where the road is away from the water.  Despite the wind, I got back to my car in one piece.  Imagine my surprise though, when the route ended up being 7.1 miles and I hit an average of 8:08/mile pace with very even splits!  Yeah, I was pumped!  Not because that is such an amazing pace, but because it felt about a minute slower!  I guess running is alot mental.

Back in the car, and I finished my drive nice and refreshed!  My parents had house guests over the weekend so there is an amazing amount of delicious food that I partook in for 'lunch' at 4pm.  I got to swim with my dad too, before he headed back downstate this evening.  Now, it's just me and my mom.  We've got some fun planned but we both also have to work on getting our prep ready (the life of two teachers!)  I'm excited though to be settled in, get to sleep, run, and enjoy not working for a week or so.

Yikes, this post was particularly long and boring.  Oh, well...thus is life!

Quick recap:
-13 mile day, split into a bad 6 miler and a random/good 7 miler
- up north and work free for 10 days
- good fooood :)

70- apparently I'm a slow learner...

70 days = 10 weeks = eeek!

So, although I call myself a runner and am an educated person, sometimes you wouldn't think so!  Today I made all the mistakes regarding my long run that I have been making and then blogging about during this training cycle.  Hmm, let's list them, shall we?

- waiting to leave until almost 11am when the temps are 85-90 degrees out and the sun is up full force
- planning a 'new' route that "probably" goes by a gas station so I can get some water...um yeah, that was a fail.
- going out too fast before realizing that there would be no water coming for awhile
- wearing my ipod even though I never turned it on! hense just adding dead weight to my arm and reinforcing my bad tan lines...

So yeah, lots of stupidity led to a slow-ish run.  18 miles at 8:38 pace.  I would have liked it to be longer and faster, but you can't win them all, ya know?  The route was really pretty, dirt roads and rolling hills for the first 10 miles or so.  I'd do it again- just not in this heat!  I got just under 100 miles in this week so that is good.  Plus, I have time off from the bakery which means that my sleep won't (hopefully) be so deprived by my long run day next week and can do it at a reasonable hour!  Heck, I might even 'treat' myself to doing it on Saturday because this Saturday will be the first Saturday I have had off in forever and the last I will have off in forever for the markets.

Other than that...hmm, that was basically my day.  I guess that's what happens when you sleep in entirely too late, run long/slow, swim, lunch, nap, then drive up to Panera to go online!  I do have to tidy up/pack up tonite to go back up north tomorrow morning.  So. Pumped.

Hope everyone had a great day!