Week Nine - Day 1 and 2

 I am definitely feeling better, not quite 100% when getting both my run and weight lifting done in the early mornings, but I am getting there. 
 Yesterday I didn't run as Monday's are my no run days, but I did get up at 4 AM and head to the gym for back day. My stomach was cramping a little during the workout and I felt a little drained, but felt better throughout the day so that is a good sign. I lifted weights for an hour and 3 minutes.

Narrow Grip Lat Pull Down: 70lbsX8reps, 60lbsX12reps, 70lbsX8reps, 60lbsX12reps, 56.2lbsX14reps, 70lbsX8reps
Bent Over One Arm Dumbbell Row: 30lbsX12reps, 35lbsX12reps, 30lbsX12reps, 35lbsX12reps, 30lbsX12reps, 40lbsX8reps
Underhand Seated Cable Row: 50lbsX12reps, 60lbsX8reps, 50lbsX12reps, 60lbsX8reps, 50lbsX12reps, 60lbsX8reps
Rear Delt: 6 sets/ 12 reps/ 40 lbs
Parallel Grip Lat Pull Down: 60lbsX12reps, 66.2lbsX8reps, 60lbsX12reps, 60lbsX12reps, 70lbsX8reps, 60lbsX12reps

Seated Cable Row: 60lbsX12reps, 60lbsX12reps, 60lbsX12reps, 70lbsX8reps, 60lbsX12reps, 70lbsX8reps

  Then before work I did some leg strengthening, I did 
3 sets of squats with a 20 lb Kettlebell
3 sets of donkey kicks - 12 for each leg
3 sets of fire hydrants - 12 for each leg
3 sets of Bridges - 30 seconds each

  Later in the evening I did some abdominal strengthening.
4 sets of the Plank Position - 1 Min, 1:30 Min, 1:30 Min, 1 Min
4 Sets of Bicycle Crunches - 50 reps each
4 Sets of Oblique Crunches - 15 reps each side
4 Sets of Raised Leg Crunches - 25 reps each

  Last night I didn't get to bed until just after 11 PM, I can get away with 5 hours of sleep but only 4 makes it really tough. I didn't want to get up, and I damn sure didn't want to go for a run and then to the gym. I got ready anyways, my body felt good (other than still sleepy) and I was going to take advantage of that.
  Rocky and I ran 5.4 miles in 55:51 with an average pace of 10:21 min/mile, no issues at all so that is good news.
Laps/splits:
Mile 1 - 10:49
Mile 2 - 10:26
Mile 3 - 10:34
Mile 4 - 9:59
Mile 5 - 10:06
Mile 5.4 - 9:50

   Got inside, changed my clothes and headed off to the gym.  I was definitely a little tired after the run, wasn't able to give it 100% but I did my best and feel good about the workout. Focused on Biceps, Triceps and Chest

Standing Dumbbell Curls: 20lbsX20reps, 22.5lbsX12reps, 20lbsX20reps, 22.5lbsX12reps, 25lbsX10reps, 22.5lbsX12reps, 25lbsX10reps
Standing Triceps Cable Pulldown: 50lbsX12reps, 60lbsX8reps, 50lbsX12reps, 60lbsX8reps, 50lbsX12reps, 60lbsX8reps
Fly Delt: 60lbsX12reps, 60lbsX12reps, 65lbsX8reps, 60lbsX12reps, 65lbsX8reps, 70lbsX8reps
Triceps Extensions: 35lbsX12reps, 40lbsX10reps, 35lbsX12reps, 40lbsX10reps, 35lbsX12reps, 40lbsX10reps
Standing Barbell Curls: 35lbsX12reps, 40lbsX12reps, 35lbsX12reps, 50lbsX6reps, 35lbsX12reps, 50lbsX6reps, 40lbsX12reps
Machine Chest Press: 60lbsX12reps, 55lbsX12reps, 60lbsX10reps, 55lbsX12reps, 60lbsX10reps, 65lbsX8reps  

Day Seven, Week 8 - An Awful Run and Thoughts.... Too much thinking!!! (long post)

  I am beginning to wonder that maybe, possibly all this working out and running has taken a lot out of my immune system (or at least this past week???). Normally the stomach bug only lasts 24 hours or less for me, but this time it lasted 72 hours and I definitely felt the final stage during this morning's run (WARNING: TMI)  Normally the last stage of the stomach bug for me is the D word (seriously, don't make me spell it damn it) and that bastard hit me during this run and afterwards. I was planning on going to the gym after our run this morning but was back to feeling sick to my stomach and decided not to. I knew that if I did go, I wouldn't be able to give it my all and probably would've made things worse.
  Plus it was 30 degrees, and I felt it in my face and down my throat and lungs. For starters, I tried to go before we left the house, I felt it there waiting and I wanted it out before the run... but nothing happened. Then around 1.5 miles I tried and nothing happened, it hit at mile 2.5 and from that point on I was sick to my stomach. The same feeling I had during the marathon starting at mile 14..... yeah it sucked.
  We ran 5.2 miles in like 54 minutes (stupid garmin isn't uploading!!!), thank god I had no plans of trying for 10 because I would have been crying. I ended up going to the bathroom (again) and then changed to go to the gym even though I knew deep down to just stay home. I did end up turning around and heading back home, I knew I wouldn't be able to give it my all there and it would have sucked.
  I am starting to feel better now, it seems that this bastard of a stomach bug is finally leaving my body but I have a small concern..... my mileage has not been as great as it should during this past month - especially since I have 2 back to back half marathons staring me in the face and only 4 weeks away from this weekend..... am I going to be ready for it? Is there anything else that is going to screw up my training???
   The original plan (and hopefully it will still work) is to run the first race at a good, fresh pace. The first race is on April 25, the Kentucky Derby Festival Half Marathon and it is on the roads, I am not going to run my heart out (you never know what the weather will be like) but I don't plan on taking it too easy. After the race, I will head back to the hotel and eat - lots of protein, carbs and water then maybe take a warm bath or jump into bed and nap for a few hours before our tour at Jim Beam's distillery (2:30 PM, will need to get there 15 minutes early). Then back to the hotel for some more rest, might order carry out or go out which reminds me I need to start looking up the restaurants there. Then hopefully to bed by 10 PM.
  April 26 is the Backside Trail Half Marathon, the plan with that will be some sight seeing, I love, love, LOVE trails and especially ones I've never been on so I am definitely taking my small P&S camera so this will not be a fast paced race but an easy, recovery, sight-seeing race with pictures and running when I feel up to it or walking when I feel necessary. We'll also see how the weather goes too... Husband, son and step-son will be expected to come to the first race but not this one as I won't have an ETA on my finish time.

  Other than those worries and concerns, this is the end of week 8 and week 9 is a whole brand new week so hopefully no more situations. My main focus now is to keep my Sunday runs at 10 miles while increasing Saturday's run so that I will know what it feels like to run on tired legs (I should know that by now, shouldn't I?). I've only got 3 weeks before taper, which I will cut back on the mileage and even the gym days. Hopefully, just hopefully I will survive this and be bringing to half marathon finisher's medals home by the end of April.

Day Four, Week 8

    It was raining a lot early this morning, and I already felt drained so I decided to just head to the gym instead and get an hour of circuits in. Focused on the Biceps, Triceps and Chest this morning.

Standing Dumbbell Curls: 22.5lbsX20reps, 20lbsX22reps, 22.5lbsX20reps, 20lbsX22reps, 25lbsX12reps, 25lbsX12reps
Standing Triceps Cable Pull Down: 46.2lbsX15, 50lbsX12reps, 56.2lbsX12reps, 50lbsX12reps, 56.2lbsX12reps, 50lbsX12reps
Incline Loaded Plate Chest Press: 1 set/ 12 reps/ 50lbs, 5 sets/ 12 reps/ 70lbs
Triceps Extension: 30lbsX12reps, 35lbsX12reps, 40lbsX12reps, 35lbsX12reps, 30lbsX12reps, 40lbsX12reps
Fly Delt: 50lbsX15reps, 60lbsX12reps, 55lbsX12reps, 60lbsX12reps, 55lbsX12reps, 65lbsX12reps
Rear Delt: 4 sets/ 12 reps/ 40lbs , 2 sets/ 10 reps/ 45 lbs
Standing Barbell Curls: 35lbsX12reps, 40lbsX12reps, 35lbsX12reps, 40lbsX12reps, 35lbsX12reps, 45lbsX10reps
Seated Chest Press: 50lbsX12reps, 60lbsX10reps, 50lbsX12reps, 55lbsX10lbs, 50lbsX12reps, 60lbsX12reps

  I haven't had Subway for 2 months, ate it for lunch this afternoon and I've been feeling sick to my stomach ever since. I don't know what the hell is going on, but I am hoping that I feel better by morning as I really don't want to run while feeling like this :(

Day Three, Week 8

Okay, so when I woke up at 3 AM once again I was in the middle of a dream and really didn't want to get up. But I did, although I had plenty of excuses going on in my head as to why I should stay in bed and take today as a rest day :P
Internet was down so I couldn't check the weather, I decided to be cautious and wear my capris, a t-shirt and take my windbreaker jacket just in case. When Rocky and I stepped outside I realized I should've worn shorts, and I stuck the windbreaker in the Tahoe. It was 57 degrees, with 10 mph SSW winds... it felt a lot windier but we'll go with what they say.
Rocky and I avoid the road with the loose dogs, so that went well... I also didn't feel any aches or soreness this morning so we went ahead and ran 5.2 miles in 54:02 with an average pace of 10:23 min/mile.
Laps/splits were:
Mile 1 - 10:43
Mile 2 - 10:31
Mile 3 - 10:15
Mile 4 - 10:20
Mile 5 - 10:09
.2       - 10:08

   Then it was time to head to the gym.
Was feeling a little dizzy/weird half way through, feeling better now that I ate. Focused on the back this morning.
Wide Grip Lat Pull Down: 60lbsX12reps, 70lbsX8reps, 56.2lbsX12reps, 60lbsX12reps, 70lbsX8reps, 66.2lbsX12reps
Bent Over One Arm Dumbbell Row: 30lbsX12reps, 40lbsX8reps, 30lbsX12reps, 35lbsX12reps, 40lbsX10reps, 30lbsX15reps
Rear Delt: 40lbsX12reps, 45lbsX10reps, 40lbsX12reps, 50lbsX8reps, 40lbsX12reps, 50lbsX8reps
Underhand Seated Cable Row: 50lbsX12reps, 60lbsX10reps, 50lbsX12reps, 60lbsX10reps, 50lbsX12reps, 60lbsX10reps
Parallel Grip Lat Pull Down: 60lbsX12reps, 56.2lbsX12reps, 60lbsX12reps, 56.2lbsX12reps, 70lbsX8reps, 60lbsX12reps
Machine Pull Down: 70lbsX12reps, 80lbsX12reps, 75lbsX12reps, 80lbsX12reps, 75lbsX12reps, 90lbsX8reps

Seated Cable Row: 60lbsX12reps, 60lbsX12reps, 70lbsX8reps, 60lbsX12reps, 70lbsX8reps, 70lbsX8reps

   I still have 2-3 miles to run with Dorian and Rocky this afternoon/evening, and I just now realized that I left Rocky's leash at the house......

Week Eight, Day 2

It's funny how I have more time and energy to do my workouts but not to blog about them, so far the week has been going well. My hamstrings are switching back and forth with feeling sore, but not really pain so I guess that is a good thing. 
This morning was 39 degrees with a feels like 34 degrees and winds of 8 mph NNE, I wore capris, a t-shirt and a windbreaker and gloves for this crap. I'll be happy when the morning temperatures are above 50 degrees, heck I'll take 45 degrees.
Rocky and I had an okay run, other than the loose dogs... I am getting sick of this, I guess I'll have to avoid that neighborhood/road for a while. One of these bastards was a Mastiff, luckily he only really barked at us and stuff but so far we've been lucky.
We ran 6.2 miles in 1:03:53 with an average pace of 10:18 min/mile, an elevation gain of 120 feet and a loss of 120 feet (weird). 
Laps/splits were:
Mile 1 - 10:57
Mile 2 - 10:27
Mile 3 - 10:45
Mile 4 - 10:22
Mile 5 - 9:43
Mile 6 - 9:43
Mile 6.2 - 9:45

   It felt kind of slow but I wouldn't be surprised if 30-50 seconds of that was our having to stop and deal with the Mastiff and slowly walk until I was sure he wasn't going to assault us.... I am seriously considering carrying my taser with me instead of pepper spray.

  Then it was off to the gym to focus on shoulders and delts, right at 50 minutes of circuit training.

Dumbbell Lateral Raises: 12.5lbsX12reps, 12.5lbsX12reps, 10lbsX12reps, 10lbsX12reps, 12.5lbsX12reps, 12.5lbsX12reps
Loaded Plate Shoulder Press: 4 sets/ 12 reps/ 50 lbs, 1 set/ 8 reps/ 70 lbs, 1 set/ 12 reps/ 70 lbs
Shoulder Shrugs: 25lbsX20reps, 25lbsX20reps, 27.5lbsX15reps, 25lbsX20reps, 27.5lbsX15lbs, 27.5lbsX20reps
Barbell Upright Rows: 6 sets/ 12 reps/ 30 lbs
Front Plate Raises: 25lbsX12reps, 35lbsX8reps, 25lbsX12reps, 35lbsX8reps, 25lbsX12reps, 35lbsX8reps

Side Laterals to Front Raise: 5 sets/ 12 reps/ 12.5 lbs, 1 set/ 8 reps/ 15 lbs

  Then before work I did 3 sets of squats with 6 reps each, with a 20 lb kettlebell. Then I did 3 bridges for 30 seconds each and 3 sets of 12 reps of donkey kicks for each leg. Then tonight I did some abdominal/core strengthening:
2 minutes of planking
1 set of 50 Bicycle Crunches
1 set of 20 Oblique Crunches (each side)
2 minutes of planking
1 set of 50 Bicycle Crunches
1 set of 20 Oblique Crunches (each side
1 set of 50 Bicycle Crunches
1 set of 20 Oblique Crunches (each side)
1 minute of planking
1 set of Bicycle Crunches

   And I am done for the day. Tomorrow is questionable as far as running, there is supposed to be severe storms in the morning so we'll see what happens. It will clear up in the afternoon/evening so I will definitely get in 3-4 miles with Dorian and Rocky while getting in at least an hour at the gym in the morning.

Day One, Week Eight

Taking the day off from running, gonna get back to making Monday my rest day as far as running is concerned. I did do some squats and abdominal/core strengthening last night before bed, hopefully I won't regret the squats and can soon get back to doing them a little more often.

I did go to the gym though, for 1 hour and 12 minutes.

I'm already feeling the "burn"   Focus this morning was on Biceps, Triceps and Chest

Standing Dumbbell Curls: 20lbsX20reps, 17.5lbsX24reps, 20lbsX20reps, 22.5lbsX12reps, 20lbsX20reps, 22.5lbsX12reps
Standing Triceps Cable Pull Down: 40lbsX15reps, 50lbsX12reps, 50lbsX12reps, 56.2lbsX10reps, 50lbsX12reps, 60lbsX8reps
Fly Delt: 50lbsX12reps, 55lbsX12reps, 60lbsX10reps, 55lbsX12reps, 60lbsX12reps, 65lbsX10reps
Loaded Plate Incline Chest Press: 4 sets/ 12 reps/ 50lbs, 2 sets/ 8 reps/ 70 lbs
Standing Dumbbell Raises: 5 sets/ 8 reps/ 15 lbs, 1 set / 8 reps/ 17.5 lbs
Rear Delt: 40lbsX12reps, 45lbsX10reps, 40lbsX12reps, 45lbsX10reps, 40lbsX12reps, 50lbsX8reps
Triceps Extensions: 3 sets/ 12 reps/ 40 lbs, 2 sets/ 12 reps/ 35 lbs, 1 set/ 12 reps/ 40 lbs
Standing Barbell Curls: 30lbsX12reps, 40lbsX12reps, 30lbsX12reps, 40lbsX12reps, 30lbsX12reps, 40lbsX12reps
Seated Chest Press: 50lbsX12reps, 55lbsX10lbs, 50lbsX10reps, 60lbsX8reps, 50lbsX10reps, 60lbsX8reps

My arms are already starting to feel sore, it was getting tough during the Standing Barbell Curls, I didn't think I'd be able to finish my Seated Chest Press sets lol.

Day Seven - Week 7

   I am such a slacker, I'll add yesterday (day 6) to this bloop. The plan for Saturday was to get up at 5 AM and go to the gym, then later that morning take Rocky and Dorian for a walk. Well, around 11 PM Thursday night Dorian woke up and puked.... yay... apparently his dinner didn't set well with him and it ended up all over the bed and me. We cleaned it all up, then I couldn't fall back to sleep due to stomach pains (totally different issue) until late. I didn't get up and go to the gym, I was too freaking tired.
  We did get to run though, headed to the Newburgh riverfront around 11 AM. It was apparently 52 degrees so I wore shorts and a tank top but ended up taking my tank off because it felt like it was 65 degrees. I was the only one half dressed, there were about 50-100 people down there at the time and 95% of them had long sleeves, jackets and pants on. I might have seen one other lady runner wearing shorts and a tank but that was it, I felt out of place lol but I was burning up. The plan was 3 miles but we ended up doing 4.2 miles in 40:26 with an average pace of 9:38 min/mile. It is so strange how my form improves immensely when I push Dorian in the stroller and the paces seem easier.... weird.
Laps/splits were:
Mile 1 - 9:56
Mile 2 - 9:42
Mile 3 - 9:28
Mile 4 - 9:25
4.2     - 9:36

  Later that afternoon I took Rocky and Dorian on our back property, where Rocky rolled in that nasty, stinky, stagnant mud so he got a bath. For 10 minutes I washed him, I was bent over at the hips and could feel my hamstrings and glutes crying. Yeah... Sunday's run is going to suck lol.

  I had my alarm set for 3:05 this morning thinking I would go to the gym after running, but ended up waking to my 4 AM alarm. I was tired, the alarm interrupted me during a strange dream. It was 48 degrees outside but I went ahead and wore caprs and a t-shirt, I had my gloves on but dropped them off at a spot I can go back to later around 1.7 miles as I was feeling warm. Sure enough my hamstrings and glutes were feeling it, I just hope it's nothing serious.
   The run wasn't great, it wasn't awful but it wasn't great. We ran down the creepier road this time, we ended up running 10.1 miles in 1:41:37 with an average pace of 10:04 min/mile though I am sure 30 seconds was added to that when a dog came out of nowhere barking at us. I stopped but didn't stop the watch and cursed the dog, then Rocky and I walked slowly for about 10-15 feet making sure the stupid dog didn't come after us. I won't state the elevation as I think my garmin went nuts again.
Laps/splits were:
Mile 1 - 10:44
Mile 2 - 10;25
Mile 3 - 10:12
Mile 4 - 10:11
Mile 5 - 10:26
Mile 6 - 9:59
Mile 7 - 9:55
Mile 8 - 9:47
Mile 9 - 9:43
Mile 10 - 9:22
.1        - 8:46

   My quads, my hamstrings and my glutes are seriously sore and achy right now and I think I am going to take some ibuprofen because this is miserable.