10 feels like 5

I think that I recently hit a key turning point in my training.  My 10 mile run after work last night felt like a 5 mile run.  This morning I can tell that I ran last night, but I’m not terribly sore.  Today I have an 8 mile run after work planned.  I’m going to do the same route from work to and along the river that I did last night, but I’m going to turn around a bit sooner.  We still haven’t changed to British Summer Time, so it gets dark around 6:30-6:45 and I don’t feel completley safe running alone.

Long Run and Recovery Run

What a great Saturday run!  The sun was out, weather was wonderful, and I had great company.  I plowed through 13.5 miles on Saturday and did a slow 3 on Sunday.  My quads are still majorly sore today, but I think that I’ll be fine by tomorrow.  I ran with Jed and that was the best.  Since Jed is a stronger runner than me, he carried the “big ipod” and both of our water bottles.  He also put my long sleeved t-shirt around his waist.   Those little changes actually help compensate since he’s faster than me.

 

Today’s exercise is just my hour that I spend walking to work and a core yoga workout and upper body lifting when I get home. 

7 miler

Last night I changed into my running clothes and 7 miles after work.  I’m really enjoying walking to work and then running home.  It seems like I’m doing this an average of 2 days a week.  I leave my sports bags at work and then take them home on a day that I’m not running home. 

My ankle is a bit tight, but it’s not too bad.  I think if I keep icing and stretching it it will be okay.  I’m resting today and have another 7 miler tomorrow. 

On tap for today:

• Work in the morning
• Trip to London for a meeting
• Dinner and a bit of shopping at Whole Foods!
• Taking the late train back with my Honey

Frozen fingers and toes

I just got back from a rainy 4 mile run.  We’ve had a spell of rainy and icy weather in Cambridge.  It was too icy to run this morning, so I saved my run for after work.  I ended up running in the rain, but running in the rain is much better than running on ice.  There were still a few icy patches, but I just slowed down a walked through them.

We had zero heat at work today.  It was freezing cold!  A rumor was going around the office that it was officially too cold for us to work and that “Health and Safety” regulations required that we go home!  Another company that works in my building decided to work from home so they let me borrow their little space heater.  It was a lifesaver!  My hands were so cold that I couldn’t type.

Well, well, well

Well hello there! Welcome back to Steps To Stockholm!

Indeed, I have been stepping to Stockholm, I just haven’t been blogging about my running. In general I’ve been running 3-4 times a week. I’m having a difficult time getting in my weekday runs. I generally run both Saturdays and Sundays with Saturdays being my longer run.

So, I’m restarting my blog.

See you on Monday, I’ve got a fast 3 miler!

Yoga for Two

I have been on a yoga kick recently. I just love the Yoga Journal Videocasts. I did one yesterday evening, one this morning, and one before dinner when I got back from London. They are so easy to follow, challenging, no annoying background music, and a really good length. They average 20-25 min, but Jason always suggests follow on workouts, so you can practice longer if you wish. I’ve stuck to just one session at a time, but I hope to move towards 2 at a time. My husband joined me for the session before dinner. He’s so sweet. I love him.

My “I’m training for Stockholm Marathon T-shirt” came today! It says “I’m training for” in English, German, Swedish, and Finnish! How cool is that?!? It’s the color of the Swedish flag and made a type of material that wicks away sweat. I can’t wait to wear it on my morning run.

Rolling on the River

Photo by Elfleda

I did my classic 6 mile run along the river. It took me around 55min for an average pace of just under 9 min/mile. My goal is to do this run at an average speed of 8:30. The river was pretty quiet this afternoon since the weather was cloudy and cold.

As I ran I listened to both a Wall Street Journal Podcast and a session of NPR’s Fresh Air which talked about TARP. I don’t see a stabilization in home prices anytime soon. Not all signs are predicting an increase in foreclosures, but with the recession only growing more intense and more companies laying off workers, it seems that more families will not be able to afford their mortgages. Homes are so important to families. When families are displaced from their homes it causes all kinds of problems and instability. This is a incredibly serious problem.

As much as I want us to buy a home, I realize that home ownership is only a blessing when we are debt free, (check) have an emergency fund of 3-6 months of living expenses (check), can put at least 20% down (No check), and that our mortgage is only 25% of our income on a 15 year fixed rate basis. It’s so easy for me to get house envy. I really have to remind myself to be thankful for what I have and not covet what other people have.

Meal Plan

I’m still working on whitting down my pantry, so I didn’t have much to buy at the store this week.  I spend 31 pounds and about 5 of that was on shampoo/conditioner, hand soap, and toothbrushes.  All of my household items were buy one get one free!  I have to buy household items like that on sale.

This week for lunch I’m having homemade black bean burgers and Jed’s having pasta and tomato sauce.  I’m experimenting with a couple of blackbean burger recipies.  If I find a winner, I’ll post it at the end of next week!

Saturday:

Salad with blackbean burger (try number one, they didn’t hold up for freezing/refridgerating)

Sunday:

Roasted potaoes, hearty salad with chickpeas

Monday:

Mexican!  Beans and rice in tortillas

Tuesday:

Baked tofu and steamed veggies

Wednesday:

Stirfry with veggies, ginger, and soba noodles

Thurday:

Falafel and salad

Friday:

Pizza party!

Finally, A RUN!

What a great run!  I went for 6 miles along the river in the rain.  During the first half of my run I saw a Boat Race where I think the “fancy dress” theme was Christmas. One boat had Santa as the cox and the reindeer as the rowers. Another boat had a Nativity scene with wiseman and the Angel Gabriel.  It looked like the rowers were having a good time.

I didn’t time my run, but it felt fast and I was able to push myself.  I didn’t have any pain in my knee but I think that was because I had about 3 days off from running.  I’m icing it now.  You know, for prevention.  🙂

My plans for the evening include stove top popcorn and the movie Fried Green Tomatoes.

No run

I planned on going to the gym after work and doing a cardio medley of 20 min stairmaster, 5k run, and 20 min elliptical.  But, my sweet husband called around 4:00 and asked if he could pick me up from my office and take me to dinner!  So, I went.  At first I had a bit of an attitude, b/c I wanted to get in my gym time.  But, Jeddie wanted to relax and enjoy the end of term, so we went out to dinner. I’ll hit the gym tomorrow night.  (I have to be in London too early to go to running first thing).

What do you guys do when your plans to work out don’t work?  I try not to get upset, but also remind myself that it really is better to exercise in the morning.  No dinner dates then, :).

Don’t forget to get your flu jab!