Feeling Better this Morning

  Thankfully the 24 hour stomach bug is gone, I might have lost one day but I am going to do my best to keep running every day until New Year's Day. This morning was a little difficult, I woke up at 1:30 a.m and was tempted to run my 7 miles right then but thought screw it and tried to fall back to sleep. Dorian started getting restless around 4 a.m, and I wasn't able to get out of bed at 5 when my alarm went off, but then when I tried sneaking out at 5:41 (I must have fell asleep) Dorian got out of bed and came looking for me. He was so adorable and cuddly I just had to go back to bed with him for 15-20 more minutes.
   Rocky and I only had time for 5 miles which turned into 5.2 miles, so we'll have to do the other 2 miles later this afternoon. I felt really good, I honestly think having one day of no running really helped my legs because overall I felt good. Traffic was pretty crazy on the roads, a little annoying but I just focused on my run and keeping Rocky on pace. We ran the 5.2 miles in 51:02 with an average pace of 9:49 min/mile, temperature of 25 degrees and an elevation gain of 136 feet and loss of 138 feet. I aimed for many of the big hills around the house for this run as I haven't done hills in a while.
Laps/splits were:
Mile 1 - 10:46
Mile 2 - 10:03
Mile 3 - 9:38
Mile 4 - 9:42
Mile 5 - 9:12
.2       - 8:29
  Overall a good run, hopefully tonight's 2 miler will be just as good although a bit shorter.

My Streak Is Over :(

  I was determined to keep my streak going, even if it meant running around the shipping tables.... but then last night I got hit by the stomach bug which lasted all night and I woke up this morning sore in all parts of my body. Today was a no run day, sadly even with 5 more hours to go I know it would be just stupid of me to try and go out for a 1 mile run when my body still needs to heal and hopefully be ready for a 7 miler tomorrow. 
  I gave my best to this streak, but 19 days with 79.2 miles is all I have to show for it.

I just can't take a break.........

  Ugh, I lied....... I wanted to take today and tomorrow off but I couldn't help it, at lunch time I ran around the shipping tables for 11 minutes and 20 seconds figuring up a mile. I am just so used to running everyday now, and I had swore to this holiday streak publicly.... no matter how much I want to just say screw it and not run, I end up running...... even if for 11-12 minutes. I guess a mile won't hurt, my regular plan is 5-6 miles on Mondays so......... we'll see how things go. I am going to try and stretch and use the foam roller every day if not twice a day, and just try to reach 30 weekly miles....... though it seems fate is trying to keep me from that milestone. I am definitely never wearing those orange shoes ever again.

Last Night's 7 Miler on the Roads with Rocky

  First off, I almost didn't go running yesterday and I actually felt relieved about it. The scare I got with my foot/toe, and then my soon being up all night from 1 a.m to 6:30 a.m sick to his stomach and vomiting - I just couldn't go run that morning with him needing me (he's only 20 months old). I also didn't want to find out if I did in fact have an overuse injury, so I wasn't even stressed out by the idea of not running and I was already accepting that I was done with the holiday streak as I could tell either it was taking a toll on my body, or trying to stabilize my feet while running on ice, slush or snow and roads are just tough compared to trails; had I kept running trails it would probably be a different story.
   Well, my mom got out to the house at 4:30 p.m and Dorian had been feeling so much better and had been eating some without puking since 6:30 a.m. I had avoided giving him any milk, so the only liquids he has consumed since 6 yesterday morning has been either water or pedialyte. I decided to try for 3 miles, I wasn't expecting anything good with my toe. I took Rocky with me and we hit some good hills in the first mile, things weren't sore yet.
   We kept running, and the only soreness I felt was my right lower calf and ankle area but it got better after 3 miles. We ended up running 7.1 miles, I really wanted 9 but I promised Rocky I would never force him to run longer than 7 miles on the roads if I could help it (his paw pads are my concern) so I accepted 7.1 miles. It was slow going the first 3 miles but we picked it up and then just after mile 5 ran past the house with the Doberman and he was out (again) so got stuck there for 5 minutes until his owner called him in. Then in the last mile a loose dog decided to run just a few feet ahead of us turning around to bark every few seconds, then had to stop and meet Rocky. He then followed us for a quarter of a mile before going somewhere else, which had slowed us down more than I wanted. 
   We ran 7.1 miles in 1:15:53, an average pace of 10:41 min/mile and an elevation gain of 157 feet and loss of 158 feet. Temperature was 30 degrees with a feels like 23 degrees, 7 mph SW winds.
Laps/splits:
Mile 1 - 11:36
Mile 2 - 10:33
Mile 3 - 10:32
Mile 4 - 10:28
Mile 5 - 10:37
Mile 6 - 10:41
Mile 7 - 10:27
.1       - 9:42

    Honestly though, I think 18 consecutive days is enough for me - at least for now and until I can get back on trails and there is no more ice. Plus, it's just aggravating dressing up to run in winter, I love being able to wear shorts, a sports bra and shoes (socks too) - it's quick and barely take 2 minutes to dress while winter gear takes 3-8 minutes and it isn't so bad when I have 3 days off from running but to run everyday, to tug on the tights everyday, 2-3 layers of shirts, my long socks and then head band and maybe a hat, then gloves........ it just gets old. I might try a streak in summer next year, but I think I am pretty much okay with saying my holiday streak is over. My legs need rest, they need a break and I'd like to blame it on the ice that I've had to run on :P

A Not So Great Run

   Rocky and I got our 1.5 miles in tonight, on the roads out by the house dealing with cars as usual. Around mile 1, or just before it my left big toe started aching, that was about 2 hours ago so I can quite remember when it would hurt but it would stop if I stopped. My left calf was a little sore too, but it was more annoying just to be out on the roads. I hardly wear these shoes, they used to be for my tempo runs - same brand as my (road) long runs and easy runs but for some reason these shoes always felt weird so I think I am done wearing them. I am really hoping this was just a mishap of wearing the wrong shoes and still being sore from last night's run, tomorrow's long run (hoping for 12 miles) will tell me for sure.
   We ran the 1.5 miles in 16:01 with an average pace of 10:39 min/mile, temperature of 34 degrees, a feels like 26 and 10 mph WNW winds.  It sucked, because of my stupid toe.
Laps/spits:
Mile 1 - 10:55
.5       - 10:09

   I am concerned that this holiday streak is hurting me, I am scared that I am increasing my mileage too quick. I swore to this holiday streak and I don't want to have to quit it or even take a couple of days off. I've ran 17 days in a row now - 71.1 miles in 2 weeks and 3 days..... that is a lot for me. I can't wait until this stupid streak is over with, I am going to take a few days off or drop my runs.

  Okay, last night Rocky and I ran 2 miles on the Greenway - at night so I actually let him run loose (with his leash attached to him) because nobody else was out there. Even for 2 miles, it was a pretty nice run - 19:52 with a pace of 9:55 min/mile which was a bit faster than I had planned but it is Rocky's fault.
Laps/splits:
Mile 1 - 10:18
Mile 2 - 9:32
   Not bad, and it felt pretty good overall. It was 25 degrees, and the sky was clear. I knew I was going to pay for this and Wednesday's run.
   This evening we ran 5 miles in rainy conditions, it had started out as snow half an hour before we left for our run but turned into rain. The Greenway was slushy and slippery, it took a lot of effort just to keep from slipping and falling and my legs were definitely feeling it. I wanted a slow and easy pace but this felt tiring and not so easy. We ran the 5 miles in 52:04 with an average pace of 10:24 min/mile, temperature was 34 degrees with rain.
Laps/splits:
Mile 1 - 10:29
Mile 2 - 11:12
Mile 3 - 10:33
Mile 4 - 9:57
Mile 5 - 9:52

    Tomorrow I'll run 1.6 miles on the trails just to see how they are and then I am going to decide after that whether I will run my 12 miles on the trails with Rocky Sunday or on the roads without him.

A Really Great Run this Morning

   I gave Rocky another day of rest, and I am pretty glad I did as I probably would not have had such a good run on the roads this morning. But first, yesterday's 2.3 miler (again without Rocky) which went pretty good though still a little sore in the calves. It was 21 degrees with a feels like 11, 9 mph NW winds and some flurries. I ran the 2.3 miles in 24:02 with an average pace of 10:27 min/mile:
Laps/splits:
Mile 1 - 10:51
Mile 2 - 10:15
.3      - 9:48
    Not a bad run at all.
This morning I found myself arguing with my mind and body, my alarm clock had gone off at 4:40 and I didn't want to get up. I kept trying to find excuses, thinking I would just as my mom to watch little bit and I'd run tonight. After 5 minutes of debating I finally said screw it and got up, I figured 5 miles wouldn't hurt and I would just take it easy. Most of the roads were clear when I got out the door, only my right calf was a little sore still but not bad. It was 18 degrees with a feels like 7, 8 mph S winds but not bad at all - I had my thermal long sleeve undershirt on, a florescent yellow long sleeve shirt and my florescent yellow windbreaker jacket to keep the wind off. I also had my nice warm northface gloves on, my head/ear band and a hat on. Can't remember, but I think my tights are Under Armour, and then my Drymax socks. The first mile was a bit chilly but not bad and I began to warm up after 15 minutes. 
It was a good a pace, and just before mile 4 I stopped for a breather as the really cold air can be a bit harsh. I had decided to run 6 instead of 5, and just before mile 5 I found myself picking up the pace. Before I had reached mile 6 I decided I would run 7 miles with the last mile being kind of a cool down.......... it didn't go that way. This was a really good run, it definitely made up for the last few days of tough running and soreness - by the time I had reached mile 4 my soreness was completely gone and my legs were feeling great. I ended up running 7 miles in 1:08:17 with an average pace of 9:45 min/mile, it felt great and I really hope Sunday's 12 miler feels this great whether it is on the trails or road (hoping and praying for the trails to be in a more merciful condition).
Laps/Splits were:
Mile 1 - 10:54
Mile 2 - 10:28
Mile 3 - 10:27
Mile 4 - 10:07
Mile 5 - 9:23
Mile 6 - 8:28
Mile 7 - 8:27

   As soon as my garmin lapped 7, it said the 8th lap was reaching a 7:09 min/mile pace...... pretty cool :)
On the Runningahead.com training log they have a widget tool that is called Rolling Run totals - showing you how many miles you've ran in the last 7 days and in the last 30 days.
Last 7 days: 28.5 miles (5:18:54)
Last 30 days: 120.3 miles (21:04:50)
Pretty cool, I didn't start taking notice until last night so I figure 120.3 miles in the last 30 days is really good for me.