Running Running Runninghood

It has been awhile since I've done a bulleted post, so here's some random Runninghood for you on this Monday morning.  My husband happens to be home sick today so that means that the kids want to be around him and I have a few moments to myself here.  


Running

This is a very typical everyday run around my neighborhood. Obviously I don't run 10 miles every day but this gives you a glimpse of the elevation changes around here.  Good Boston training!  

• I have not been writing a ton about running lately.  I think the biggest reason for this is that I'm not in serious training for anything but once  Boston training begins, you'll probably all be sick of reading about the running side of Runninghood.  
• I'm on week 19 of a 20 week half-marathon plan from Brain Training For Runners.  I started at about week 12.
• I have a half marathon coming up on October 16th. The Girlfriend's Half in Vancouver, Washington!  I hope to see so many of you!  Who's running it??
• No, I won't be expecting a PR at this half marathon. I would be thrilled with a 1:35 and even happier with anything faster but I'm not thinking that this will be my sub 1:30 half...definitely not with the training or lack of training that I've had this summer.  I've trained just enough so that I have a base and can run strong enough to not make a total fool out of myself after this lazy summer.
• I'm not following the plan the way Matt Fitzgerald would like me to.  I'm kind of using it as a starting point and trying to get something in.  For example, Friday calls for 2 mile warm up; 6 miles @half marathon pace; 3 mile cool down.  Not happening.  Maybe 3 miles at half marathon pace.  Sunday calls for 2 mile warm-up; 8 miles marathon pace; 2 mile cool-down.  Not happening either.  Probably will just do 12 miles of base pace.  
• I'm just not feeling the hard-core training right now.  The Girlfriend's Half isn't about peak performance and I am okay with that.  It will be fun.  
• As a mom of three little ones, I know what a sacrifice it is to train seriously for something and I'm saving myself for Boston training.  Once that starts, I won't be such a lazy lady anymore and I'll step up to the plate and do what my training calls for.  Until then, I'm fine with where I am at.  
• I ran 45 miles last week.  Biggest mileage week all summer if that tells you anything. I hope to be running up to 60-70 during peak Boston training.  Not so sure I have time to run more than that.  Or at least not time I want to give at this point in my life.  
• My husband will be training for the Eugene Marathon at the same time as I'm training for Boston.  His goal will be to qualify for Boston.  I'm not so sure how it will play out with having both of us in serious marathon training.  MIght have to hire a weekend Nanny for those long runs that will mostly likely also serve as our dates.  
• Yesterday's run was 10.6.  I intended to just run it at a slow pace.  I was so bored by mile 5 so mile 6-10 I picked it up to a comfortable but faster pace:  7:53, 7:33, 7:29, 7:37, 7:21.  This felt easy and conversational so I was happy with that. I wanted mile 10 to be sub 7 but there was a pretty big up hill at the very end so that wasn't happening.  This is surely not where I want to be during Boston training but I feel great about it right now.  
• The good thing about my neighborhood is that it has some major hills.  This will be good for Boston training.  
• Training plans...I'm really thinking that this next time around, I want to focus more on putting in more miles at a slower pace and having less key workouts at a faster pace.   I'm also thinking that I want more of my long runs to be slower.  
• Far away Boston Goal:  Since training isn't fresh in my mind right now, I can only make a guess at what I'll be shooting for when the time comes but I'd really like to shoot for that 3:15 or better!  I know I have it in me but the question is whether or not this is the time in my life to do it.  There are a lot of other directions that I am pulled these days and I know my time at home with my little ones is limited so I will do what I can do make sure I'm giving my all to my workouts when I'm out there running but I am most likely not going to be willing to give more time than necessary.  Time is precious right now.  And with a husband that travels a lot, this doesn't always make for the best training opportunities.  I will be thrilled just to be at Boston and meeting some dear friends.  A PR would be nice too.  

Some Nuts and Bolts:

On Friday, I posted about making positive affirmations with my kids.  We are still in the process of getting them taped up.  I will update soon.  Thanks for your e-mails about this!

Vote!  Go cast your vote for your favorite "Art" piece...tell us what one jumps out at you the most.  The piece that speaks to you.  As expected, there is a mixed bag of responses.  This is the last week to comment.  

I'm still getting these out.  Slowly but Surely!  Thanks for those of you that have e-mailed to tell me you got your sticker.  Hopefully, some of you will be getting mail this week!  Let me know what you do with your stickers.  Lots of you have said you are starting a running journal and putting it in there.  Awesome!  

1.  Who is running Girlfriend's Half?  
2.  What are your fitness/running goals for the last few months of 2011?
3.  Mother's of young kids (under7), what are some ways you balance training/workout out, personal time, and being there for your family?  


Amanda