Time Flies When You're Having Fun!

You don’t realize how fast a month goes by until you have a huge calendar on your wall staring at you every time you walk into the kitchen. 

January was a great month! I was super excited to kick off the training and start tracking my progress. In my last post, I told you why we had so many rest days. I guessed right, it is really hard to change our routine. Originally, I thought I would tackle the world, get up early run in the wee hours before my first client, and hit the gym before dinner as usual. That did not happen. I stayed cozy and warm in my bed and got up same time for work. 

Not once did I get up early and run, but you know what? Rather than dogging myself for that I just gave myself grace and fit it into my regular schedule, and I am proud of my progress. Still went to the gym after work did my running before my workout and taught a kickass total body class on Thursdays. 

Don’t want to skip over the other important parts though. I spent a few minutes every day working on my flexibility and stability to increase mobility and strength in my ankles, knees, and hips. Plus I love a good stretch session! 

Focusing on aerobic capacity in Phase 1. 

How was the actual running?

Gen: 

Treadmill.

Umm zone 2 is tough! Tougher than I expected. I never realized it would be so hard to keep my heart rate that low. I thought I would cruise along on the treadmill at mall walker speed and barely break a sweat. I was wrong. BUT after the first week or two I noticed that I could stay in the zone and increase my speed. It was so exciting when I realized I had to work harder to get to zone 2 then it was much easier to stay there. Now I can cruise along for an hour and stay right where I need to, so that’s my first milestone. 

Outside road.

Whole ‘notha story. What’s the deal with running outside? Maybe I need a slower playlist. I cannot, I repeat - CAN NOT keep my heart rate down. I almost feel like I have to speedwalk. Not the normal treadmill mall walker pace either. This is SLOW I mean SLOOOOW. I’m still working on this. I’ll get back to you.

Trails. 

Oh dear lord. Let’s start with the hype sesh. We did a few miles to test out the amazing new shoes. BTW if you aren’t on the Salomon bandwagon yet I highly recommend it. The new Sense Ride 5’s are amazing. I wasn’t sure about speed laces at first but I’m all in now. What a great shoe. I felt like a gazelle out there. Completely confident in the grip and whoa the comfort. Ok, got off track there but dang they’re nice! 

Trail run last week.

I think I died a bit. The conditions were perfect. Beautiful weather, beautiful views, well rested - hydrated blah blah blah. Fast forward to mile 2.5-3. I got my ass kicked. Like actually kicked. There were a few times I had a comin’ to Jesus talk with myself. Like, girl you chose the thug life - toughen up, or all the other fun pep talks I gave myself like good grief it’s only 6.5 miles. I’m a super fan girl of ultra running so if I’m ever gonna be any kind of long-distance trail runner this is where it starts. I won’t lie. I had to walk a tiny bit here and there. BUT once again. When I got my head right and of course got past the monster incline of that section it was smooth-ish sailing. 

Brock: 

Have I mentioned I am oddly competitive? My husband is good at everything. I mean everything. He is a big dude. Big muscles, super strong, deadlifts a million pounds, good at everything. Well, that of course doesn’t help my ridiculously competitive nature, because of course, I feel the need to relentlessly harass him and talk a big game. It must be like a mosquito buzzing in his ear. It’s actually quite funny, I promise. 

Treadmill.

Level 100 cruises along like he’s been running for hours his whole life. 

Outside on the road - same! 

Trail running.

Bro! What’s his deal? So, we take his big ass on the trail. The one that almost took me out in section 2, yeah same trail. and what does he do? Kills it! Runs like a mountain goat. Cruises right along at light speed and barely breaks a sweat let alone his stride on the section that almost killed me. 

Yes, I am a very loving wife and I am proud of him and truly in awe of him but seriously. UGH.  At least, I got him on the flexibility part ;)