Passing Time on the Treadmill and Keeping Up With The Gouchers

Fitting in the miles for marathon training when you have young kids can be tricky indeed.  Lots of evening runs and pushing around a heavy double jogging stroller was how I trained for my marathons earlier this year.  But now that I have a treadmill in my garage, an entirely new world has opened up to me!  I'm able to be way more efficient with my time and fit in my training runs and everything else before dinner.  This makes for a much more relaxing evening.  


But what does one do to pass the time when running mile after mile in a garage?  Why watch youtube of course!  And what a great way to learn and be inspired.  So much to watch about nutrition, racing, inspiration and even get a peak into the life of elite athletes.  Today, as I was watching random running stuff while I ran, I came across several videos about Kara Goucher and then I found these videos showing us a bit about what life is like for Adam and Kara.  This surely beats Keeping Up With the Kardashians!  

Thoughts on this episode:

• Kara and Adam are so stinking cute!
• Couple ice bath...awesome to see them both struggle with it just like the average person.
• How wonderful to be able to be as good as they are and have the coach they do.
• Adam and Kara pretty much train and do workout stuff all day long.  Obviously...it is their job.  Truly.  And they LOVE it!  
• It takes a lot of work to be as good as Kara. Talent or no talent...she works her butt off!  This isn't any new news or realization but this video made me realize just HOW MUCH she does.  Drills, weights, more drills, test, train, train, train and then train some more.  
• Injury happens to everyone and if you want it bad enough, you will get back there!
• Pretty neat for Kara and Adam to be married to their best friend and share in such similar goals.  "Living the Dream" as Kara said. 
• How cool to have a sport where we can push ourselves to OUR fullest and still feel amazing and proud even if we are not an elite runner.  

Keeping Up With Runninghood

Although my running isn't nearly as exciting as Kara Goucher, I have had a great week!  I don't plan on doing every run on my treadmill but I'm in love with what it allows me to do and the extra time I have for the rest of my life.  

This week:  I should hit 60 miles after my 14 mile run tomorrow but this is what I have so far:

Sun: Off 

Mon:  A.M 10 miles @ gym (before we got our treadmill) 2 easy; 6 @ 7:53 with 1-2% incline; 2 @ 8:34 (last .5 @7:23ish)

         P.M 3 easy

Tues:  5 easy 

Wed: A.M 3 easy

         P.M (afternoon) 6 easy

Thurs:  A.M 4 @ base of around 8 min pace

           P.M (afternoon) 1 mile warm up; 10 x 400 @ 6:40 pace with 400 active recovery (high nine min pace) in between; 1 mile cool down.  7 miles total

Friday:  A.M 4 easy

            P.M 4 easy (varying inclines up to 4%)

Sat:  Goal: 14 miles 

Goals for next week:

• Continue to listen to my body and build mileage
• Last week before I start incorporating more of a structure to my training.  Will probably just start with a 20 week plan in Run Faster by Brad Hudson but still thinking about starting official training in January.  
• Possibly 65 miles if my body says Yes!

1.  Do you watch inspirational and educational stuff on youtube?  I've never really watched stuff on youtube except the occasional video posted by a friend.  I'm loving that there is so much out there to entertain me while I run.  I've already learned so much and been INSPIRED!
2.  Non-runner and mother readers, I did post an motherhood idea this morning if you are sick of the running talk.  I know, 2 posts in one day!  Wow...just like old times!  
3.  Check out Jill's Runner Bloggy gift  exchange!  It was fun last year.  Simple. Inexpensive and a great way to connect with someone you might not otherwise connect with.  
Amanda