Half Empty Half Full

     Training is officially half OVER!  Week 6 CHECK! DONE! OVER! I am typically a positive person, but in this case, the positive is that I am on the downhill spiral slope. It has been very doable so far. I love Hal's training plan. I can't lie, it takes a lot of time & work and effort. Not to mention thinking. Every single day you think about it, you plan it & then DO IT. Then you come home and recover, rehydrate & prepare for the next day.  No escaping it, not even rest day--you are thinking about tomorrow. It can be overwhelming at times. You have to want it & love it. Sometimes I question my reasoning or my time spent killing myself doing what I love. After working and being a momma & wife, sometimes there is not much leftover for myself or running. Other days I feel like I NEED the running to be a better wife, mom, employee & friend. It clears my head, fuels my day, and gives me goals for me myself and I . I can pick the training, the pace, the music, the races. No one can argue with me, it's all my choice. Another plus. Just sayin'.

     This week was a supposed to be a slower easier week, because of the scheduled 5k. I have to wonder if Hal knows at the halfway point we NEED a lil break. So, I went into it giving it my all, like usual. I found the week to get tougher and tougher as the days passed drug. There was not good workout this week. EVERYTHING was tough. I did it, but i struggled. Still, trying to rehydrate and get back on track, I had a setback that changed the whole week. I went to the doctor expecting a basic check up & a change in prescription. But, uh, no. I was taken back by his findings, and concerns & requests for tests. I don't have time for this, not in my thoughts, not in my daily mom & wife gig, let alone my training plan..( see 1st paragraph). I then realized he was right, there were things that needed addressing. How can I expect so much from my body if I don't take care of it?? I told him about training ( it follows you everywhere you go, everything you do) and my desire need to continue with it. He was very understanding ( for now). I got all the tests done & now am playing the waiting game. I am not very good  suck at the waiting game. I have been paying closer attention to things, and yep prolly need some tuning up. I am hoping not an overhaul. :/



At the start.... hoping for a good race.



     So, the highlight of the week was the Thin Mint Sprint 5K. Well, it was supposed to be anyway. I was so so so nervous. I get nervous before races, but more excited than nervous. This was 100% nerves. It was my 1st Nevada race, my 1st race without a friend running with me, and with the waiting game cloud over my head. It was also my family's 1st race experience. I wanted so badly for them to experience the excitement of the crowd, the music & event in general. So, we pull into the park. NO signs, so traffic, not many people. I pulled out my paper to verify we were there on the right day. Yep , that small. So, now I am nervous my family will hate it & be bored & never want to go with me again. SIGH. We figure out where the small crowd is finally. There was 1 table for packet pick up, 1 for late registration. I was told to "be back here by 9 for the start." ME: Here? Her: Yes , here. ---- I look around and think...ummm do we need a start finish line? A timing mat? Music? Isn't there a festival after the race? Oh boy. Ok... LOL! About 8:50, the mat is being thrown down & set up. At 8:55 NO ONE is in line to start- just a slight gathering of people. 9 am comes and goes. I'd say about 10 after , we get called for instructions. So finally we start. 2 laps around... The walkers start after us. I take off feeling good & excited. My music is going, my family is snapping photos--here I go. That was the best I felt. No endorphins, nothing. Just struggled . All 3 miles. Pandora let me down. (Music makes a difference). I never felt even halfway good. I felt shaky, uneasy, outta place, weak & just plain out of it the whole time. I gave up on my goal of sub 30 mins early on. I forgot to look at my watch when I started. No clue what my time was. On the 2nd lap, we caught up to the walkers, strollers, etc. There were some spots where you couldn't pass, etc, etc. I seriously thought I would be about 34 minutes at the finish. So when Kynzie told me 30:25 I was happy & disappointed all at once. Happy I even got that good of time, but disappointed that I was THAT close to being under 30 mins!!! I woulda dug deeper & got that 30 secs shaved off. I was soooo happy to see my family at the finish taking pics. I felt sooooooo weak & strange.. I run more than 3 miles at a time several times a WEEK. Sometimes it's just not your day. And with the events of this week, I am happy to have got the time I did. But, I got race #1 of #12 for Race for the Bling of it under my belt. :) Not all races will be big & elaborate I know, I was just hoping for my family's 1st it would have been a little larger. At least a cop directing or blocking traffic or even someone's boom box for music overhead. Not every race can be my best & after this week , I will sooooo take 30:25.

It's finally OVER!

WEEK 7: ALL mileage increases as well as cardio day time. :) Please pray. Thanks & Come Again

4.5 miles

2 miles

Strength & stretch

4.5 miles & strength

50 mins cardio

7 miles