Saturday Stats & Plans

This was the end of Week 6 on the training schedule. The long run was supposed to be 11 miles.

Here's a bit of background info:

Daniel and I are going to a marriage conference all weekend starting tonight until Sunday. We've known about it for a while and VERY excited!! I'm sure I'll have a ton to post afterwards.

Also, I'm going to be travelling for about 10 days the end of the month. I am not counting on being able to do any running where i'm going. So...... my plan was to stick with the schedule, take the 10 day break, then hopefully be able to ease back into the long runs and maybe just push the half marathon back a week.

That is all still possible.

However, last night I realized that I had one GU left and I had 2 long runs (11 this weekend and 12 next) before being able to restock the GU.

So I decided to run 8 miles this morning (instead of the planned11), and save the GU for next weekend, and hope to be able to do an 11 or 12.  I figured I could do 8 and be okay, esp if I did my 5 mile loop, grabbed my water, and finished with 3. At that point, 3 is easy.

The running went well so I decided to do 9. I thought long and hard about running 10, but decided not to. And I'm really glad I didn't. That last mile was pretty hard, not what I would call a quality mile. I was going on just water at that point and was starting to feel each step.

So I ran 9 and am okay with that. I'm going to try and get every mile in next week before leaving on the 24th.

I had a post planned for a 'day in the life' here, but life completely got away from me this week, so it will just have to wait.

Has anyone been to a marriage conference before??? This will be my first one!

love

Laura

Birthday Week

It's Birthday Week in our family.....not necessarily me or Daniel, but the extended fam. And even though we're far away, we want you to know that we love you, miss you, and wishing you the best birthday!

First, my mom's (Kathy) birthday was this past Saturday. I won't tell her age, but I think she is aging really well!

(Christmas 2007)

Happy Birthday MOM!!!! Hope you had a great day and know how much I miss you!

Today, is this little guys 5th birthday!

As in he has been on this earth for 5 full years, where has the time gone?!?!?!!?!?!? Because I'm pretty sure this was yesterday:

He was just a wee little pup!

January 2008

Okay, wow, now that I'm crying after looking through all of Grant's baby pictures.......

Happy Birthday buddy, your Auntie Laura misses you tons!!

And last, but certainly not least, Happy Birthday Steve!!!! (Daniel's dad), Steve's birthday is Thursday!

Happy Birthday Steve, wish we could have dinner with you!

Love you all!

Laura

Saturday Stats

Today was a big run. 10 miles. I've run 10 miles a few times before, but it's been a while.

I was a bit worried how this run would go, considering I had forgotten to hydrate yesterday, and only drank about 4 glasses of water. I know, not smart. I also didn't eat a lot yesterday to carb up.....

So this morning I set my alarm for 6:10 because I REALLY wanted to get it out of the way. I ended up waiting around the house for a few minutes, because it was just still too dark to start running.

At 6:45, I found my gate guard friend and gave him my water bottle to pick up after mile 5. My plan was to run 2 different 5 mile routes. This ended up being huge mentally! I loved that the routes were different so I didn't get as bored.

The first 5 miles were pretty annoying. I couldn't get my shoes to fit right for the life of me. I stopped at least 6 times to re-adjust the laces. I was reallly missing my old running shoes today, because they had Yankz and were quick and easy to adjust. I'm thinking of buying some for these shoes too.

Anyways, first 5 miles was just under a 12 minute pace. I then slurped my Vanilla Bean Gu in record time and took off for round 2.

A dog chased me again and almost bit me. I don't know how to handle this. Most of the dogs are not on leashes so no one cares what they're doing. And if a dog does bite me, no one will help me. It's not in their culture. So I already have a plan ready in case....to borrow/use someones cell phone to call Daniel to come get me. I carry his phone # and a little money in my running shoe pouch.

So......round 2 went AMAZING!!!! I was on my last mile when I realized I was several minutes ahead of where I should be. I mean, I know I'm getting faster, but I was really far ahead! So I ended up running another leg towards the end to make up for it in case I had missed something.

After getting home I realized I went a different way than I had mapped so when I thought I was supposed to be done, I wasn't. The route I did today was a bit shorter. So i'm glad I tacked on the last part just to be safe. And I mapped my run as best as I could and it's either 9.9 or 10 miles. I'm going to believe it was 10.

I also had an overall pace of about 11:45. Pardon me while I scream from excitement!!!!!!

I've been running less than 2 years. I feel like I have ALWAYS been at a 12 minute pace, and when I would run anything over 5 miles, it quickly went to 12:30-13 minutes depending on how long I ran. I never saw much improvement in my pace until just recently. Not sure if time is what it takes, or because of some of the weight loss. (I'm SO close to a total loss of 30 pounds, but these last few will just not leave!) :)

I'm in shock. Shock and awe.

My total mileage for the week is 21.1 miles.

Next week is Week 6 of training with a long run of 11 miles. Bring it.

love

Laura

Going Local

I had a friend come over last night and we cooked dinner together. She wanted me to make half of dinner and she would make the other half.

I decided to make Chicken Pastina. It's usually a fave of ours. Right before my friend came over I realized I didn't have any diced tomatoes, which is pretty necessary to the recipe. So sweet Daniel went to 4 different stores to get me some. Bless him.

We now know that in a future emergency situation like this one, he can ride to the store and back in less than 45 minutes.

I always add red pepper flakes to give it a bit more kick, I think it's a little bland on it's own. Guess who forgot to add them? yep. I don't think my friend minded so much.

She made this green vegetable that literally translates into "green vegetable." I have no idea what it is in english. She also made us this soup (far left bowl in the picture) with egg and another green vegetable that I didn't recognize.

Here are all the dishes. We actually washed a few while we were cooking because we kept running out of pots and bowls.

If I could tell you anything, it's don't take your dishwasher for granted :) And speaking of dishwashers.....Daniel and I bought a blender this week. I'm SO excited to make hummus, smoothies, and salsa. What's funny is that when we were picking out which one we wanted, I saw that one (the one we ended up buying) was dishwasher safe, and I thought how perfect! It wasn't until a few hours later that I remembered we don't even have a dishwasher so it didn't even matter, ha!

Just a few randoms:

We're going to an art/antique market today that is close to our house. I'm pretty excited.

I have to run 10 miles tomorrow. Which means I won't sleep much tonight.

Sarah already bought our Christmas presents. She's totally on top of the ball. (is it on the ball? can you be on top of the ball??)  Sidenote: sometimes after studying language for a while, it's easy to forget what is an english word and what isn't. This week I had to ask Daniel a few times if I was using real english words or not.

My homework assignment this week for one of my classes is to write a minimum of 150 characters on what I think about "going Dutch." A. I wish i could write this in english, and B. I wish I had an opinion about it.

What are your weekend plans?? Any thoughts on going Dutch??

love

Laura

Cloud 9

Wow, today has been such a GREAT day!!

I claim that my love language(s) is gifts and surprises, and what is better than a surprise gift right?!

This morning I got up at 6:30 in the AM to run the 5 miles on the schedule. Have I mentioned that we don't have classes this week because it's a holiday? Yet I found the willpower to set an alarm clock. It's amazing how much willpower I can muster up sometimes.

I actually picked up a few extra tutoring sessions to make up for it. Call me crazy.

So I didn't sleep very well last night, and I did not want to get up this morning. Even after I was dressed and carbed for my run, I still just wanted to get back in bed. But alas, I dug down deep and found it in me to run. I honestly can't remember being this unmotivated to run before.

So I ran.

After tutoring, Daniel and I were eating lunch and I was checking email. Remember how I'm travelling the end of this month and in super need of a visa, but in a very big time crunch?? Well lo and behold, the visa office that was supposed to need 9-11 business days to process the visa, did it in 2.

That's 2 days! My visa is already on it's way to the inlaws, then they'll send it on to me. I have been specifically praying that the visa would come thru in time, because despite all the huge warnings given by the visa office, I went ahead and bought my tickets in faith that I would get the visa in time. It was supposed to take much longer than it did, and I'm on cloud 9 because of it.

THEN, we ran (actually rode) to do some errands. I was at the import store and was reallly close to buying a kit kat. Yet again, I showed courageous willpower and resisted temptation.

However, after getting home, we had a SURPRISE package waiting for us!!! My mom sent us a package with goodies that we had no idea about!! Totally hit the love language one on the head with this one Mom!

And what was inside but Kit Kats, blank notecards (bc those are impossible to get here!), a zip up hoodie I had left behind, a cupcake mix, and we each got a fleece blanket. Mine is Green Bay Packers, and Daniel is OU.

Again, cloud 9.

Also, I ordered some jeans this week because I've lost a little more weight and it's embarrassing how much my current jeans are sagging in certain areas. I'll take a before and after pic when I get the new jeans so you can fully appreciate it with me.

So I had them sent to Sarah's house, and they're getting delivered a week earlier than expected. Which means she will be able to mail them to me before I travel!!

Cloud 9.

So many little blessings, surprises, and my day has been made.

(sadly Daniel's wasn't because his ipod was stolen today.)  Hopefully he can find comfort in his new OU blanket. Or maybe a kit kat.

love

Laura

Running, rain, records, recipes, and random

There is just so much to say, i can't even stand it.

Let's start off with the most important news. I witnessed a miracle today.

I ran 3 miles in 30:30. In case math isn't your best subject, that's an average of a 10:10 mile. As in 10 MINUTES 10 SECONDS people. Ya'll.......seriously?!?!?!?!!? My average is usually 12 minute, or as of late 11.

Can I get an AMEN?!?!!?!?!?!?!?!??!!?

Let's backtrack to the reason why I ran so fast:

I slept in till 9 am this morning. I drank 2 cups of coffee with homemade coffee creamer (read down for the recipe). After drinking the coffee, a sip of water and no food, I thought it would be a good time for a run. Yes, call me crazy.

As I stepped outside it started to rain. Perfect.

I took off running and felt really fast. I've heard that coffee that make you run faster, and I'm here as living proof that it does. I don't really recommend the no water, no food, only coffee mix though, because i've had a bad headache since.

Anyways, let's get back to the awesomeness that was this morning.

I ran at a pace of 10 min 10 seconds a mile. And yes, I'm pretty sure I heard the Hallelujah chorus as I finished. Not sure if that will ever happen again, but I just witnessed something that has been forever in my "impossible" category. I'm sure Runner's World will be asking me to do speaking engagements or something very soon.

I got a recipe for coffee creamer from a friend, and then I googled to see what variations there might be. I specifically looked for a Creme Brulee creamer recipe, because that was my fave in the States. And coffee creamer has been one thing I have really missed.

I found one here. Someone had given me SCM a while back, and when I went to use it this morning, I realized it expired in January of 2010. But beggars can't be choosers, and nothing was going to stop me from making this creamer.

It was good. It wasn't much like what I would buy in the States, but I think it just needs a bit of tweaking. I didn't think it was very sweet, but Daniel couldn't even drink it because he said it was too sweet. Anyways, I'm pretty excited just to have a starting point and to be able to make different flavors. I might look for a hazelnut flavor too, because that's my second fave. Oh the possibilities!!!!

For the random.....

We can buy sodas at an import store for about $1.50. I buy a Diet A&W every so often as a treat. But sometimes they'll sell things at a discount if they're damaged or expired. I was at the import store last night and found these little treasures for half off, so about 0.80 cents!

It's damaged, but who am I to judge. And no it's not diet, but I was at negative calories when I ate lunch today, so I think it will be okay to splurge.

To keep with the random.......Daniel and I were walking to dinner a couple weeks back and saw this. I HAD to take a picture!!

It's kind of blurry, but yes, that is a purple dog.

So many questions......

love

Laura

Saturday Stats

So random, but I was just looking at the calendar at my mileage for the week and realized it's October. October people!!!!! It's practically Christmas!!! WOW!!!!!!! That's insane, how in the world have we gotten here so fast?!?!? anyone with me???

Normally in the states October and November are busy months because everyone and their dog on both sides of our family decided to be born in October and November. And yes, we thought it would be a good time to get married too.

Even though we're living a few thousand miles away, we still managed to fill up almost every day and weekend over the next 2 months. Go us.

That has nothing to do with running, but for the love it's October!!! And I just can't believe it.

So, i just finished Week 4 of the half training. Confession, I've never gone this far in a training schedule without missing a day or cutting a run out. I'm very proud to say, I have not missed a single day of training! Every run on the schedule has been done!

This weeks long run was 8 miles. I ended up doing 8.4, because there just isn't a good 4 mile route, it's either a little less or a little more.

Here's the play by play:

I tried to hydrate yesterday, which means I only had 1 cup of coffee. I got up at 6:30 this morning, because there is nothing worse than doing a long run late in the day. I prefer to get it out of the way and then eat and rest the whole day to make up for the run, ha!

So I didn't want to run with my water bottle the whole 8 miles, so I told our gate guard that I would be running a long time, and could i please leave my bottle with him, and I would come back to get it? He cheerfully agreed. (he sees me run all the time, so he wasn't weirded out).

(sidenote, I brought 2 Vanilla Bean Gu's with me when we came).

So I ran my first 4 miles, with a good 12 min/mile pace. I had to make myself slow down a lot, because I'm averaging 11 min/miles lately. I swung back around after the first loop, got my water bottle and Gu, and went back out.

Honestly, I realllllly don't like stopping when I run. I wish there were little drink stations set up for me so I could grab my Gatorade and keep going. And there is some type of mental block that happens to me when I stop, and then rerun everything again. It always take me a good mile to get back into the groove of things.

Anyways, Gu went well and I finished pretty strong. I have NEVER run this many miles and been able to keep my pace below 12 minutes. Usually after 5, it slows down a lot. I was pretty excited!!

I had a huge breakfast to make up for the run and a large iced coffee. I seriously love them. They're so easy to make, yet I just don't make them very often. All week I knew I'd have iced coffee after my run, so that was a bit of a motivator as well.

My total mileage for the week was 19.4 miles. Next week it will be 21.

love

Laura