Runs are Definitely Getting Better

   I've noticed an improvement in my runs, even as the mileage picks up. Last night's run was supposed to be 4 miles but Shauna and I went ahead and ran 5 miles, and it felt pretty good. We've been doing our two weekly runs at 4 miles for about 4 weeks now and this weekend we run 7 miles so I don't see much of an issue if we go ahead and increase it to 5 miles or at least one of our weekly runs. Team 13 doesn't increase their weekly runs to 5 miles until after the 15k race September 8, and I am feeling pretty good. Our pace was:
   
    Mile 1 - 11:52 / Mile 2 - 11:25 / Mile 3 - 11:18 / Mile 4 - 11:10 / Mile 5 - 10:49.

   So we averaged about an 11:19 mpm pace which isn't bad at all. I am really enjoying my runs with my sister, she keeps me from going to slow but I keep her from going to fast so we level out at a good pace. Again I felt I probably could have ran a couple miles further, but I don't want to push it. I feel really good about this training, and I am excited about the Half Marathon, I know I won't hit last year's time but I am quite alright with that as I just want to run it and finish it and to have the medal knowing that not only did I run my first Half Marathon when I was 13 weeks pregnant but I ran my second Half Marathon 6 months after giving birth to my sweet little blessing. I am excited to be setting an example for him, growing up watching his mom run races and living a healthy, active lifestyle even though Daddy isn't quite as active but that is understandable as he is much older than me and has had a very active life himself and is now running a business while enjoying Dorian's early life which he didn't get to do with his first 3 children.
   I've got 52 days until the Half Marathon, and I am so excited I can barely contain myself right now. Shauna and I are also going to do the Spartan race next year, I think it will probably be the same month as last year (April) and we'll do the Spartan Sprint: http://spartanrace.com/spartan-sprint-obstacle-course-race.html which again I just cannot wait for this one either as it is going to be on trails and I love running on trails more than anything, especially in winter.
   Okay, I am done blogging for the day.

Our Six mile Run

   I didn't get out yesterday morning to do my 6 mile run, and was a little disappointed at first because it would have been in the high 50's to low 60's if I had ran and I really wanted to feel that temperature. I am very glad I didn't go, my sister was able to run later that evening and we did our 6 miles together, granted I winged it on the route choosing but sometimes it is fun when you don't exactly have a plan and just go as the GPS on your Garmin tells you. Our pace averaged just under 12 minutes, our splits were:
Mile 1 - 12:03 / Mile 2 - 11:23 / Mile 3 - 12:16 / Mile 4 - 12:21 / Mile 5 - 12:09 / Mile 6 - 11:45
   I felt I could have gone another couple miles at 11:58 mpm pace but I am going to stick to my training plan for now and not risk injury just because I was feeling pretty good and the weather was great (71 degrees). After Half Marathon my plan is to average my weekly runs to 5 miles (2 times a week), with a fast 1 mile run for a speed workout and the weekend long runs to be between 8-10 miles hopefully averaging 15-20 miles a week.
  I am excited, things are going well with training. Dorian is a gift, blessing and a dream I never imagined coming true. He's already so strong, so aware of his surroundings, and too smart for his own good lol. Everyone who meets him can't believe how happy his is, and everything else. Cameron and I know exactly why,  not because we just got lucky with a well behaved child but because his parents love him, love each other and he lives in a stable, secure house unlike so many other children whose parents are constantly arguing and fighting or ignoring the child, and again everyone tells us we're obsessed, that we're spoiling him..... so what if we're obsessed with our child... we're supposed to be! And if loving him, socializing him, interacting with him, and working on his developmental milestones is spoiling him then that is quite alright with us. He's my contribution to this world, a clean slate that needs influencing, teaching and good (and bad) experiences with a good head on his shoulders, and the only way for that is to build a strong bond with him from the beginning. I know he is going to go through changes, especially when puberty starts and it will be tough but hopefully with a strong bond, setting a good example for him, teach him morals, value and the difference between right and wrong (and WHY), it won't be too difficult. So many people I know are just counting the days when their child/dren will be out the door and out of their hair... why??? It's an amazing experience, a whole new chapter just waiting to be written,    I just don't understand their way of thinking but I sure won't think that.
   I plan to set a great example for Dorian, healthy lifestyle, an honest living, quality over quantity and definitely living over materialistic crap. Hopefully he'll grow up learning and watching me closely, and grow a strong interest in running, or anything athletic really (but definitely running). Okay, I'm done. :)

A Good Run Last Night

  Shauna and I started off slower than Tuesday, her shorts were falling down and my legs were a bit stiff. The temperature was amazing though, compared to the day before, 85 degrees was like 60 degrees with a good breeze. We ran our 4 miles with the last mile being a 10:23 pace, our splits were:
Mile 1 - 11:58 pace / Mile 2 - 11:55 pace / Mile 3 - 11:25 pace / Mile 4 - 10:23 pace. So I am happy to say that we did a negative split and it felt good, this weekend I would be comfortable at an 11:25-11:55 pace during the first half of the 6 mile long run, then picking up the pace as I feel comfortable.
  Shauna and I might not be able to run together this weekend, I just hope she is able to get out there and run her 6 miles. This weekend is supposed to be great weather, so I might try and get my run in the morning. This morning was 70 degrees and I can't begin to describe how excited I was to feel it. I hope this might be a sign that there is a break in the heat, but I am not going to get my hopes up. Looking at the forecast, it's saying that next week will stay pretty much in the 80's, maybe touching the low 90's so we will have to see. I really hope so, my sanity really needs it because I don't know how much more of this 95+ weather I can take.
  Oh.... and I finally started my "you know what", I was feeling bloaty the last two days but since I hadn't had one in a year I totally forgot what my body did felt like before it happens..... I don't miss it.

Last Night's Run with Shauna

  Shauna and I got to run together last night, we did our 4 miles around 44 minutes so not bad at all. It was better than I expected, for some reason I run better with Shauna as long as we run alone and not with a group; for some reason she feels the need to compete with others and run faster which isn't bad for her as she used to run at around an 8 minute pace before having kids and pausing her running career.... but for me right now anything under 10 minutes is a bit much though I do feel that I am getting better and my old pace is within reach.
  Hopefully Shauna and I can run together tomorrow night, this weekend we have got to do 6 miles for our long run. Shauna has been missing out on runs in the last 2 weeks or so, I really hope this doesn't injure her. This isn't her first 6 miles, it has just been quite a few years since she was running anything more than a mile (when she got the chance). She is going about 2-3 minutes slower, if that'll help her any. I guess all we can do is take it slow and steady, keeping our eyes on the prize (the Half Marathon).
  I am tempted to think about a Marathon next year, or at least within 2 years but I've heard the training can be a bit time consuming so I am not sure if I can. I do know that I enjoy Half Marathons, and I want to do more trail races or races like the Spartan Race that is coming here next April.
   Splits were:
Mile 1 - 11:48
Mile 2 - 11:21
Mile 3 - 11:45
Mile 4 - 11:17
Mile 5 - 11:30
Mile 6 - 10:24

YMCA 5k Race Results

   So I did better than I thought, I was expecting around a 11:30 minute pace but we averaged a 10:13 pace. The first mile or 2 was very close to 10 minutes but around the 3rd mile I started feeling the urge to puke and my head was very hot. I am happy that I did better than I expected, and Shauna stuck with me the whole time which was awesome but I wonder if she could have done a lot better had she gone on without me. I am a little worried for Shauna, she hasn't been able to run much these last couple of weeks and she hasn't reached 4 miles. We haven't exactly been able to run together, so I can't supervise her mileage, next Saturday's long run is 6 miles so maybe I will try and see about us running together. The Half Marathon isn't very far away, she needs to start increasing her mileage.
    I am very satisfied with the race, the rest of today is going to be relaxing except when I go and visit Grandma Mary.

First Race Since Half Marathon

  Okay, technically the Hearts on Fire back in February was my last race before Dorian was born and I haven't ran a race since he was born. Today will be my first official race in a while, the YMCA 5k, and I am excited but a little bit nervous. Cameron won't be coming to this one he doesn't think Dorian will enjoy being there for an hour and then to breakfast and then to my grandma's so he and Dorian are going to stay home during the race. It sucks, because Cameron is the one who takes the photos of me during the race, so I will have memories but now he isn't coming. I won't be too upset as long as he comes for the 15k on September 8 and definitely the Evansville Half Marathon in October because I definitely want pictures for that one. After the race I must come home and take a shower, then we will go eat breakfast and then go to my grandma Mary's to visit for a bit today. After all that I would like to come home and sleep, but that probably won't happen lol. Well, wish me luck.

A Run just Before the Storm

  I almost got caught out in the storm, but I got my 4 miles in and ran the last mile at a 9:09 minute pace. The last mile was due to the storm coming, and I wasn't sure how bad the storm would actually be. I was a mile out when I called Cameron to come pick me up, so when I thought he was on his way I sped up and tried to go as fast as I could. I had .3 miles left by the time he pulled up to me so I thought screw it I would finish my run.
  I am finishing this entry the next day so yeah, I won't be risking that anymore. I now have someone who depends on me and needs me in his life, I can't just go out running in storms and stuff. I have to now be careful with everything I do, including when I go out with my camera to shoot abandoned, dilapidated buildings. I don't want to do something stupid that would leave my son alone in this world, I mean yes he'll have his father and family but as Cameron keeps reminding me, a child needs their mother more than any other, especially during the first few years of his life.
  This weekend's run will be 5 miles; I am not too worried about it though, I just have to remind myself to stretch and take it easy during the long run. I suppose a 12-13 minute pace during the first half will be just fine, then I can pick it up as I feel comfortable.