The first two weeks of July proved to be quite the test for me. Running has been my saving grace (although, there were a few moments where I was hating it, too). Let me catch you up…
Saturday July 1
9.25 miles
Still was not enough therapy.
Enough said about that morning.
Sunday July 2
Piyo workout. Honestly, I do not remember exactly which Piyo Workout I completed that day.
Monday July 3
Rest day.
Tuesday July 4
At the last minute, my husband and I decided to sign up for the Run for Liberty 5K. I lined up the babysitter to meet us at the high school. She would watch the boys while we both raced. (She has done this before for us). We started to get a little worried when it was ten minutes till the start and there was still no sign of the babysitter. She ended up over sleeping and all of a sudden we had two kiddos who needed to be supervised. Shawn told me to run the race. Of course, I made the same offer in return. He said, “It means more to you”. I was very thankful in that moment!!! I know he was frustrated and disappointed that he could not run it.
This particular race was my very first race ever only three years ago. I ran the 5K that year in 30:32. My goal had been to beat a 10:00/mile pace. This year, I was chasing my goal of running a 5K in under 25:00. Putting me at an 8:02/mile pace. Pretty crazy what you can accomplish in the first three years of your running journey.
I walked to the start a little nervous, but I had been distracted with the speed bump in our plans that I did not have much time to worry. My friend dropped me off toward the front of the start and moved back a bit with her girls. I tried to talk her oldest girl into running with me, but she commented that she was really out of shape. NOT! Anyway, I placed myself toward the front and got ready for the countdown and gun.
Now, it was a humid warm 4th of July morning. During that first mile, I tried my best to keep my legs moving and get in a rhythm. There was a lot of doubt during that first mile. I did not think I was going to be able to hold a sub 8:00 pace. I dug deep and pulled up some raw emotions to help keep me pushing. I was pleasantly surprised when my watch beeped at mile one with a 7:50 split.
Miles two and three actually felt better than that first mile. I slowed down some during mile three. But not too much. I knew there was a shot. As I went into that last half mile, I gave it everything I possibly could give. I raced around that track to the finish, but knew I was too late. I may have missed my big goal, but I ran my fastest race pace to date.
Splits: 7:50, 7:56, 8:04, 1:21 (7:35 pace that homestretch)
After I finished, I grabbed a water and started munching on my banana. I told Shawn he could still go run and probably be back in time before some of the walkers finished. He chose to take the scratch.
As I finished up my banana, I saw J coming in on the track. She slowed down and started walking. I immediately thought, “Uh uh. Finish strong girl”. I stepped out on that track and ran over to her. There was no way I was letting her walk to the finish line. She looked up and saw me coming for her and her feet picked up some speed. Not just some speed, like A LOT of speed! Like, as I caught up with her and turned the corner with her, I was huffing and puffing trying to keep up with her. She had so much left in her. I jumped back out at the final curve and that girl SPRINTED to the finish line!!! She took home third place in the 10-14 girls division.
Not long after, her little sister came zooming in on the track. We cheered M on as she looked strong at that finish line. She may be small, but she is mighty (I like to think it’s a redhead thing). M took home first place in the 9 and under division.
Me, well I got to bring home my first ever division place! First place in my division beat me out by several minutes. You can have it, girl! I was pretty stoked to earn second.
My watch told me I had a record 5K race at 24:41 (beating last June’s 25:00 flat). Because of that extra little mileage over the 3.1, I will not count it as an official PR. Instead, this 5K is 25:09 officially.
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Wednesday July 5
The MRTT girls created a challenge of streaking from July 4th to Labor Day. It is one mile a day. We can walk or run the mile. I am trying my best to RUN the mile each day. So far, so good.
On the 5th, I had to be able to see the boys in the driveway and cul-de-sac playing. It was a back and forth kind of mile.
Partially up and down the hill. Luckily, I did not get to run all the way up the hill each time. Miniature hill repeats.
Thursday July 6
Let me just say, if it were not for the MRTT ladies, I would not have gotten out of bed that morning. I was really struggling. It was one of those, “I know I will feel better if I run, but I want to stay in bed” kind of mornings. I told the girls I would be there. I am not one to back out or change my mind. Off I went for the 5am meet up at the park.
It was super hazy that morning and extra dark, if that is even possible. I cannot thank these two enough for that much needed morning run. They were the distraction I was needing.
The girls got me to four miles. I took the last two miles on my own. It was hot and I was sweaty.
Splits: 9:52, 9:39, 9:24, 9:05, 9:15, 9:24
It was dark all the way until I finished mile six.
Friday July 7
Friday was a travel day for us. We had to drive to Cleveland and were leaving around 9:30/10:00. That meant, I had time to get in a short run before we hit the road. It was still sticky and hot. I feel like I could write that on every post for the month of July. It took me the first mile to get my legs going. Once I made it up the hill and onto some flat road, I took off. I knew I had a few hours of sitting ahead of me. It was time to give it what I had.
In the thick of an office remodel.
Splits: 9:04, 8:47, 8:27
Saturday July 8
In Cleveland, I jumped on the hotel treadmill and went ALL OUT! Tired legs? Oh well. It was ONLY ONE MILE! I am pretty positive that is my fastest mile I have ever ran.
It is funny how pumped you can be after running only one mile.
I felt strong.
I felt like a ‘real’ runner.
I felt like giving out major “HA, I did it”s!
Yeah, I was already sweating after 7:35 minutes of running. Forgot to snap the selfie before I took off my headband and let my hair down though.
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Sunday July 9
Sunday was another travel day for us. We got home Sunday evening and put the boys to bed. I knew we did not have bananas for breakfast and my husband had to leave early for work before I would get to the store. I still needed to get in my run for the day, too. I decided to kill two birds with one stone. I ran a few streets in our neighborhood and then ventured over to Kroger. Yeah, I live very close to my go-to grocery store. I ran inside and grabbed our bananas for the next morning. Then, I ran home a mile with bananas in my hands.
I had told a friend that I was going to aim for three miles. He encouraged me to make it a 3.1. It worked out just right as I got home with 3. 15!
Splits: 9:24, 9:04, 8:51, 1:13
Monday July 10
Monday evening, it was my turn to put on my cheerleader hat and let the boys be the runners. Fleet Feet Cincinnati sponsored a fun kids running event at Summit Park. The kids played all kinds of running games. Sharks and Minnows was their favorite. The boys were super sweaty after the 30 minute fun run session. They both said they had a blast!!! It was very awesome watching them run and love every minute of it!!!
One cheerleader, two mini runners! Straight to the showers, it was, when we got home!
The boys stayed up watching the first round of the home run derby with us. Once they were in bed, it was time for Momma to finally get her run done. Man, was it late or what?!? I started the treadmill up and watched the big guys knock some balls into the lights.
I wanted to run 3-5 miles. I was happy to stop at 4. Plus, I was able to go back upstairs to watch the finals in the living room. Major props to Aaron Judge. WOW!
Tuesday July 11
It was another day of running back and forth in front of the house to get my miles in. I had asked the boys if they wanted to go on a bike ride for a few miles. The dark clouds were looming and they were afraid of a downpour (oh the trauma from that bike path run). N wanted to ride his bike, but only in our cul-de-sac where he could quickly retreat to the garage if he needed to. And Mr. C wanted to play with his bubbles. As a Mom, I did what I had to do to get it in and to avoid the treadmill for a second day in a row.
It was very hard to get in a groove. The round trip loop is about .15 mile. I ran three miles. That was A LOT of loops.
Splits: 9:56, 9:45, 9:28
Not great speed work, but I got the miles in.
Wednesday July 12
Oh, July 12th! The second day in the year that this lady gets to run whatever mileage she wants without any mom/wife guilt (Mother’s day is the other day, if you were wondering). It was my 35th birthday! While I would love to say I went out and ran 35 miles, that is just not a possibility for me, yet. I decided a 3+5=8 run would work instead.
I wanted to run eight miles with a sub 9:00/mile pace. I stepped outside and knew that was going to be one heck of a feat. Ohio summers can be rough on runners. It is not only the temperatures in the 80s, but the humidity just kills you. Throw in the fact that I had not been running a lot of longer runs lately and you get one girl with jello legs.
The boys did meet me at the park at mile 3.7 to bring me water and a towel. I took the towel with me the rest of the way. It was drenched by the time I got home. I was soaked all over. It is crazy hot when your shorts feel like you peed your pants, but you did not!
Was it the run I dreamed of? No.
Was it still flipping fantastic? Yes!
I stopped at 3.7 for that water break. Then, I stopped two other times in the second half of my run. Both times, I found a shade tree and took 20-30 seconds or so to cool myself down. I was not going to give up or quit until my watch beeped at mile 8!
Splits: 9:05, 8:52, 8:57, 8:58, 9:12, 9:01, 9:20, 9:11
Happy 35th Birthday, to ME! Perfect present!
Thursday July 13
I planned to get up and run my one mile right away. It was only one mile for the run streak. My plans went out the window when this guy climbed into bed with me to watch some tv. When your now six year old wants to cuddle with you, YOU CUDDLE!
Yes, I still sleep with a teddy bear. Don’t judge!
I ended up getting out a little later than I had planned. My workout was very rushed. I had an appointment I had to make it to. I barely squeezed in my one mile run, a piyo workout, and minimal rep work. I was at my appointment with very wet hair, but I made it on time.
For my mile, I tried to go slow. I wanted a 10:00 mile. I was close enough.
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Friday July 14
Friday morning was a family run. It was our ‘weekend’ day. N rode his bike. C was in the stroller. I pushed the stroller. And Shawn ran.
Shawn and N took off up the hill. I was doing my best to push C up that beginning part and make it to the flatter roads. My legs were still tired from Wednesday’s longer run. I was feeling it. About halfway up the hill, C said to me, “Mommy, run faster. Catch up to Daddy and N”. HA! I reassured him that I was running as fast as I could and that we would catch up to them eventually.
By the time we got to about .75, I had caught up. We all ran together for awhile. Around 1.5, we had to do a u-turn. Shawn totally cheated and made the u-turn early behind me and had me catching up to him once again. It did not take as long this time. I caught him and kept on going. As I passed him, he said, “You’re not even breathing”. I laughed, “I’m breathing”. Duh silly, I have to be breathing to be alive! One of us just happened to be breathing a bit harder than the other.
I did my best to hang with N the rest of the way home. I will tell you, if you want a training coach who will push you to go faster, have your kid ride their bike in front of you!
We arrived home at mile three. I dropped the stroller and C off and grabbed some water. Then, I went back out by myself for my final two miles.
Splits: 9:54, 9:31, 9:13, 9:21, 9:08
The hardest part about going home and then back out is running up that darn hill a second time.
Saturday July 15
I forgot to snap a picture (so did it really happen???). I ran my one mile on the treadmill. It was an 8:09 mile, too!
I followed that up with Piyo Core. It felt good!
Half way through July already. Lets see what the second half has in store. Whatever it is, I know I will survive and conquer it.
How have your July workouts been going?
