Vacation Fun & Return to Reality

Saturday

To the beach!  Drive day = Rest day.  Little walks on arrival, but otherwise, nada.

Sunday
Distance: 11+
Pace: 11:46

This was bound to be a slug fest, but I was SUPER proud I got it in.  Alone.  In the wind.  And the heat.  It was a Good Run (TM), despite pace.  I did miss the buds, though.  I don't know how solo runners find the motivation.  On the other hand, its nice to shake it up.  It is a very different thing to run alone, and there are for sure some pros in that you get to entertain yourself in your own world of thought.  I won't give up my social run commitments any time soon, but I would like to work in a solo run once a week or so here and there.  Its soothing me time. :)

I made myself a schedule for Flying Pig, just so that I don't feel so random from here to there.  After this I will either follow the Peachtree training schedule until July, or modify to keep my mileage at half-training level if successful at Chicago lotto.  #9moredays !!!

Monday 
Rest

The children all disperced.  Bill and I were left to spend Monday - Thursday on honey moon.  Time .. nothing but time... woah.  #emptynesters already.

Tuesday
Distance: 6.2 (#10KTuesday)
Pace: 10:30

Less wind.  More heat.  I adore running scenic 30A, but maybe I should have waited until it wasn't 80 degrees.  Got it in, though.  Ah, I love the housewife schedule!  Run in the middle of the day, run twice.  Run whenever the friggin hell I feel like.  Woop.

Wednesday
Rest

Honeymooning = no steps, but lots of exercise. bwhahaha.  ;)  

Thursday
Distance: 6.2 and accidental 2
Pace: 10:24 and holy friggin fast

Not much to say about the 10K; business as usual.  The accidental ~2 was fun!  Bill, Emily, her boyfriend and I took a pontoon to Seashell island.  Bill loves walking for seashells/critters.  The island was 15 miles around. But by the time we got there, slim pickings right off the pontoon drop off spot.  So we started walking off.  And nothing.  So more walking.  I think we got about 2 miles in when Bill wondered if we shouldn't go back. (per Fitbit steps)  I said: let me just jog to that end point out there and see if I don't find a stash no one has gotten to yet.  So I run out.. and out .. and out.  The point keeps getting farther and farther away.  But I am obsessed.  I forget everything, except running like a MAD woman to reach the stupid end point.  By feel, I am guessing I was running 9:30 ish .. in sand.  Hard and packed for the most part, but sand .. and a swim suit .. ouch, chafing.  Well, by the time I actually hit mystery point, I find myself COMPLETELY alone.  I can't see Bill, I can't see anything in either direction for miles!  That scares the crap out of me.  How far did I go?  What time is it?  Who knows.  SOoooooOOOOOOoo, I start HAULING ASS back.  I count to 100 at least 12 times before I even see Bill.  And so, I'd run at least a mile, and a mile back for sure by the time I caught Bill up, who had given up and was walking back.  We walked another 1.5 ish to Emily and Chase, and PHEW, it wasn't as late as I thought.  (The last pontoon cut off at 5pm only added to my dread as I ran like a maniac).

Them legs, tho! ;)

Friday
Buh Bye beach drive day = Rest day

Saturday
Distance: 3
Pace: 12

Ruh roh.  So we come to find out that the speed demons from the kick off were FOR SURE not the ITFP participants. :/  Originally, I was on the schedule to be a 10 minute run lead.  There were about 5-6 all run participants TOTAL.  Even those participants finished off at ~12 with some walking at the end (we caught Kyle's group up).  My group ended up being the same as Women's 5K .. top of 2-1 runners, with about a 12 minute total average pace.  I had about a 10-person pod, though.  Hopefully, this means that when we have all run leads present, I can at least take out the top of the 2-1s without worrying about those that fall back, or I can sneak back into an all run group, even if not 10s.

That said, it will be okay, because I decided this day was no longer going to be long run day for now.  The hodge podge of start/stop to run lead /extra miles is not for me.  Long runs are now Sunday morning.  (except this Sunday .. read on .. and BOO me).

Besides pace, this group is SO FAB.  My pod is active, asking questions, participating right from day 1.  Gotta love people excited about running!! :)


Sunday
Distance: 12 on schedule.  Did: Fail (2 mi)
Pace: 8:25

Meep. I haven't pulled this gag in a while. (since maybe round one of half training).

I got up.  I got dressed.  I drove to Riverside.  I got scared.  I panicked.  I kept driving.  I took myself home.  And put myself back in bed. In running attire.  Womp, womp.

I just got to thinking about how everyone who'd be doing these extra miles would be #bostonstrong.  (the group meeting up was 'sending off' a fellow runner).  I'd either make myself miserable trying to keep up, or run cold and alone.  Brain said: you're allowed to pass once in a while, you know.  And it sounded very good to the rest of me at the time.  Silly Judy.

In the evening, I said I'd do two at 5k race pace, or if slower, I had to go for the rest of the missed distance.  Obviously, if I can't 'hit' under 27 pace on a flat treadmill for 2 miles, then I don't have it yet.  But I hit it. 8:25 avg pace for 2 mi.  That doesn't guarantee me the PR (not by a long shot).  I was running sub 30 on the treadmill but not at races for at least a month or two.  But anyhoo, not a long run, but equally boosting to the spirits.  If not for Pig, then at least the right thing to do for Singleton .. maybe. :)  That's my story, and I'm sticking to it, at least.


Monday
Jillian Time

The actual Mizuno Monday on the ITFP training is too far of a drive, but everyone's pictures motivated me to tackle the dreaded strength training.  I don't know what's wrong with me.  I just become such an average Joe when it comes to anything other than running.  Excuses, excuses, excuses.  After professing non-stop to my husband, and anyone else who will listen, that running takes mind over matter, just-do-it type of commitment at first, I just can't get on the same page with anything cross training.

But Mondays.  Mondays are the line in the sand.  I WILL do SOMETHING for cross training every Monday, FOR REAL.  And today was day 1.  I only got through half the video, and it was UGLY.  But boom.  Its done.


Tuesday
(Cancel-able) Hotel reservation for Chicago made!  This will insure we beat the rush post-lotto, I think.  It's starting to feel like a real possibility!  I could run my first full this year.  EeeeeeEEEEeeep.