2011 May & June Recaps

I can't believe 2011 is already half over, but it's been a great one. I expect nothing but more great things for the 2nd half as I train and run my 2nd marathon! Yes, I am still excited about this :) Because of vacation, June was a better month than May for running,  but not for cycling. It's been super hot and with the start of the Galloway group I've been running in the mornings instead of cycling to work. I want to incorporate cycling back into my routine, even if just for cross-training and social rides, but I don't think I'll be commuting to work for a while. I need to put all my energy into getting used to the new routine of waking up at 4 am 3 days a week. In the fall, when the weather cools and I am able to run after work, that will probably change, but for now I am enjoying running consistently and I'm certainly seeing results.

Activity	May	June	Goal Progress  (should be 50%)
run + walk total	72	100	524 / 1100 (48%) 87/mo; 22/wk; 3/day
walk	27	42	198 / 400 (49.5%)
run	45	58	326 / 700 (46.5%)
longest run	5	10	n/a
# of runs	14	12	12 / 12 (100%)
bike	198	0	732/2000 (37%) 146/mo; 37wk; 5/day
total	270 miles 34 hrs (1/day)	100 miles 28 hours (.9/day)	1,255 / 3100 miles 212 / 365 hrs (1.2/day)

Marathon Training in the FL Summer

I've really been slacking on the blogging, but I've just been having too much fun running :) I officially started training for the Space Coast Marathon 2 weeks ago, and I'm so excited! This is their 40th anniversary and the space shuttle medal is amazing. I'm glad I only trained for half marathons last season, because it makes me feel as giddy training for my 2nd marathon now than I was when I trained for the first one =D

Even though I've done this before, it's a whole new experience because 1) I'm now leading a group, and 2) I'm training for a race in November instead of February or March. This is a huge difference in Florida because it means doing long runs in the brutal heat and humidity of summer. I thought I had everything figured out from last time, but it's a new challenge, and I have to rethink everything again.

For example ...

• I never brought my own water unless we were running super long since our routes have water stops every 2-3 miles, but now I bring a 10 oz bottle even for our short 3-4 mile runs. This way I can sip it when I need it and eat on my own schedule. I run with my fuel belt because of my phone anyway, so I might as well carry the small bottle in case I need it.
• I learned this morning that chaffing is a bigger issue when you are drenched by mile 1. My running skirt that worked great for a half marathon last November now needs extra body glide for a 10 mile run. 
• Waking up at 4 am, 3 times a week, is suddenly the best idea ever! I tried doing a track workout at 6 pm one week and just about died. I didn't even have enough energy to run back home and had to walk there. So now I meet my group at 5 am on Tuesdays for tempo/hill runs and Thursdays for speed work. I'm loving it because I'm motivated to push myself more when I'm leading a group, and it's a great way to start the day.
• There are advantages too: 
• having to start earlier to beat the heat, I'm done running before most people are even awake. 
• pushing through while it's hot, even if my pace is a little slower, will mean I'll be able to run that much faster on race day when the temps are a lot cooler. 

Another thing that is different this time around is that I have a time to beat, and I now have the confidence to work towards that goal. I'm in much better shape than last time, both physically and mentally, because I already know I can do this, I saw my pace improve a lot at shorter distances last year, and I've maintained my base during the Spring. I'm really excited to be doing track work again, and I have no doubt that PRs are in my future :) 

Running at Sea

I've been MIA for the past 2 weeks because I was on vacation on a 7-day Mediterranean cruise through Europe (Spain, France, and Italy). Before I left, I was busy getting ready for the trip. Since I returned Sunday afternoon, I have been playing catch up with work, sleep, and the Galloway Training program - both preparing for the first long run with the group I'm co-leading and working on our new website.

The cruise was amazing but very exhausting, yet I still managed to run 8 miles over 3 days. Many people would argue that when I'm on vacation I should take a break from training. But for me, running is not just training for a race. It is a way of life and something I enjoy. I don't need a vacation from running; I need a vacation to run more :) So I ran on the ship's jogging track on deck 12. The views were amazing, and I'm really glad I got to do that. Being on vacation though, I didn't worry about speed work or pushing too far. I just focused on having fun. I had one more run planned, but it was on the last day of the cruise, when I was already exhausted. Since we were at sea, the apparent wind was an absurd 30+ mph. That wasn't fun, and quite chilly, so I chose to skip it.

Now I'm back on land and starting to get my legs back and normalizing my eating and sleeping. We're already plotting our next cruise for my birthday :)