Sunday, December 28, 2008

The Plan for 2009

So here's the deal. Training for ultras just takes TOO long for me. It isn't working out with my family commitments. Instead of being a positive, it becomes a negative stress for me. Don't get me wrong, I loved my long runs in the woods. It's just the wrong time in my life for that.

Plus, I hate how slow I've become. It kinda hurts my ego to be so S-L-O-W.

So....here's the new goal for 2009 -

A sub-20 minute 5K.

That's an attainable goal, with plenty of time and wiggle room to accomplish. My all time 5k best is 17:09 - so I am capable of it. And there's all kinds of added benefits, it'll speed me up at all distances. I'm probably better suited physically for the short stuff anyway. Plus it'll be something that's more family friendly all around. I won't be gone long for training and they'll be able to hang out and watch the races without it being too long.

I'll be starting the advanced plan for a fast 5k after the 1st of the year. I'm now doing some get-in-shape for the training cycle runs. I'll shoot for a 5k after the first 8 week training cycle. That one will be a test run to see where I'm at. (If I accomplish my goal then, great! But probably pretty unlikely the first time out that early in the year).

I'm pretty jazzed about this goal. I'll get in great shape, have fun and find my speed again!

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The kids are just going stir crazy with these holidays. Ugh, I can't wait until school starts again and they are back on a schedule (and so am I). They are in each other's hair and just driving me nuts. They are set to start some fun classes after the first of the year so that should keep them busy.
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Yesterday I ran a moderately paced 4.28 miles. My time was 32:00. I threw some fast surges in there (6:09 pace) and some bounding plyometrics and such. I'm letting my stride open up again as I'll be concentrating on speed. I've been constricting my stride (marathon shuffle) and I think that has caused some problems, both physical and performance-wise. I think I just have a naturally longer stride. I'm just going to run "naturally" from now on and not mess around with my style too much.
Today I'll run a little longer, 6-7 miles at a slower pace. Maybe a hilly route. I have some new running clothes to wear that Santa brought to me! :)

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Hibernation

I haven't felt much like blogging. The holidays are, well, busy as they are for everyone. And now all the kidlets will be home with me for a while. I'll be cleaning constantly.

Everyone at Casa Coyote currently has a cold. Mama and Papa Coyote are going to be missing the one holiday party that they were going to to go to this year due to said disease. Funny how it hardly seems to phase the pups. They just continue to run around, scream, fight, play and drip snot. We on the other hand drag ourselves around like zombies.

So, no running to speak of. I'm hoping that I'll be well enough to sneak out for an early morning run on Monday before the entire clan wakes up. That would be nice. If not Monday than Tuesday hopefully.

Hope that you all are having a wonderful holiday season.

Friday, December 05, 2008

Try This Workout

My new coach is relentless. As soon as I've achieved a new fast pace she yells at me to run faster. And she doesn't allow stopping for anything. Plus, I have to push her in a baby jogger throughout my whole workout!

Little N is brutal, unforgiving, destined to be a high school PE teacher or the dictator of a banana republic.

She does LOVE the baby jogger and going for runs with me. It's quite motivating to have a happy little cheerleader. And if I'm lucky she nods off for a nap during the run, allowing me to take a break.
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No running today. I'm all knotted up. We'll do some yoga to get the kinks out.

Wednesday, December 03, 2008




Momma's Got a Brand New Bag

Back home and it's the first week of the new schedule, aka - no preschool/daycare and mommy at home. So far (3 days) so good.

It's settle back in time after a pleasant trip to AZ and Grammy's ranch. The girls have no idea yet how lucky they are to have a Grammy with HORSES. I'm sure it will sink in when their little friends get jealous.

We were welcomed home by the kitties AND a broken water heater. Yay. Just what I wanted for Xmas. So I spent some quality time with my dad and little N installing a new water heater. Of course it turned out to be 10x more difficult than anticipated because we had to jerry-rig earthquake straps, solder a new pipe into place for the pressure valve and the hot water pipes to the kitchen sink became clogged when we used it to bleed air from the water tank thus creating a whole NEW project. I just reassembled the faucet before plunking myself down infront of the 'puter.

The Hub and I got some quality runs in in AZ. We actually ran together once, first time in literally years. Someone always has to be home with the kids ya know.

We checked out some of the properties for sale. Fabulous ranch houses three times the size of our little bungalow for hundreds of thousands of dollars less than what our tiny little place is worth. It was nice to dream of more than one bathroom...and luxury ones at that! I've never seen anything in the Phoenix job listings that would be suitable for The Hub or I.

And then there's summer. I'm not sure how I feel about three months of 115 degree weather.

November is deceiving in AZ - the weather is just about perfect, tricking you into thinking that moving is a distint possibility. I'll have to visit again in July to see if it's really possible.
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Little N and I are going to saddle up the baby jogger and head out on an afternoon run. Hopefully she'll nap too. Tonight is M's winter concert at her school. I hope it's not too long.