Ice Ice Baby

As part of my regular post workout routine I have been icing my bad knee.  I have used a variety of items to get the job done but this weekend I finally broke down and bought an ice pack.  I went all the way and picked up the Moji One at Fleet Feet Sports.

I have used it a couple times so far and it definitely makes a big difference.  I can leave it in the freezer and grab it when I get back from working out.  Also, because I can wrap it on I don't have to be confined to the couch during my icing time.  I'm able to accomplish things around the apartment while still icing my knee.  AND I don't have to worry about spilling ice everywhere!  I'm definitely glad I took the plunge and purchased this item.

Another key item in my running arsenal is my Road ID.  I purchased it while I was training for NWM 13.1 after much persuasion from my mother.  Anyone who runs alone on the road should invest in one of these items.  I often run without my phone or ID so this allows for a bit of peace of mind.  I got the Wrist ID Slim in Pink (of course) and it doesn't get in the way while running.  The price is also extremely reasonable!  I went with the original version as opposed to the interactive version.  I don't know about you but if I'm lying on the side of the road I want the person to be able to know right away who to call.

Side note: I was really proud of my run from tonight.  I was able to finish two miles in under 26 minutes so I'm slowly getting my mile times down.  YAY!!!  I need to crack the 3 hour mark for SF Half Marathon and I'm shooting for 2:30.

Back to Work

So I've finished my first week of my half marathon training and I'm feeling pretty good. I worked out 5 times this week without even trying.  We had 3 workouts with the program (short run, bootcamp, and long run) and then two cross-training sessions (elliptical and cycling).  Today's long run (~4 miles) was pretty tough.  We ran through Golden Gate Park on one of the trails along JFK Dr.  Running along the trail was tougher than I expected and my first two miles were pretty tough.  I walked much more than I would have liked.  My third mile was much better and my pace matched that from our 2 mile run earlier in the week.  I'm shooting to keep my mile paces sub 13 minutes and work my way down to 10 minute miles eventually.  I wore my usual running uniform of Wunder Groove Crops and Define Jacket.  I was glad I brought my jacket as it was freezing at Ocean Beach but had to take it off once I got in the park.  Definitely a variety of climates on the run.  I was able to finish strong even though I started out pretty slow.  Looking to work on more steady pacing on future runs.

Also, I am posting all my runs to DailyMile so feel free to friend me on DailyMile to get course maps and more detailed mile splits!  Happy Running!

And They're Off!

So I must say I failed quite miserably at sticking to my workout schedule last week.  I went into the training kick-off on Saturday feeling pretty crappy.  I had prepared myself to be one of the slower people there and was just shooting to get a time under 30 minutes for 2 miles.  I must say I actually surprised myself.  The first mile was pretty good and I was able to run most of it.  Second mile was a bit tougher but was proud of myself for finishing.  I know I have a lot to work out to crack the 3 hour mark in July but think this program will definitely help me.  This week kicks off our first full week of training and I'm already trying to figure out how to fit in my runs/cross-training with my schedule.  I'm going to try to sneak in some cardio during lunch today.  Also, check out the sweet DailyMile widget I installed on my blog.  Last week I spent some time researching blogs in order to make some updates to mine and came across this on someone else's blog.  I already use DailyMile and thought this might help me stay more honest with my workouts.  DailyMile syncs with my Garmin so its super easy to upload my runs.  Be on the look out for more changes to the blog!

Overworked

And I don't mean overworked out.  Between traveling, work, and family commitments I have been struggling to get in good workouts.  Tuesday, May 1st was the last time I worked out.  Jazz Fest in New Orleans was great and I got to hang out with good friends and eat good food.  I was unable to get out for any workouts and felt pretty bad by the time I got back to San Fran.  This week at work was crazy and I was unable to get a chance to workout.  I tried to make up for my lack of workouts by going for a 2-hr walk today with a friend.  It was great to get back out there and we were able to get in over 5 miles.  I start my Half Marathon training program on Saturday so I need to focus on getting back into the swing of things this week.  Two of my friends just joined me in signing up for the Giant Half Marathon.  I am excited to start running with some of my friends and feel that it will motivate me to train more/harder.  Below is my hopeful workout schedule for the week.  Wish me luck!

Monday - Run
Tuesday - Spin Class
Wednesday - Off
Thursday - Trying for a Morning Run because I have a Bowling Event and Kickball in the afternoon
Friday - Morning Run
Saturday - TRAINING KICK-OFF!