The Training Has Begun!

Well here we go again...training for another marahon. I know to a lot of you it seems crazy that I would attempt to run another marathon especially so close to the birth of another baby. However there is something addicting to doing something so big!

So why blog about my training? Several reasons. First, I joined Team In Training and raising money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (I'll expand more on this group later). So I figure the more people that read my blog, the better chance of getting more people to sponsor me. Also, I want to use this as my runners log - a way to record my workouts and my progress. Plus if I know there is a chance that someone is reading this, it will keep me motivated to keep working out.

So let me catch you up with my training so far:

May 31:

For my first "official" day of training, Jeff and I ran the Over the Rhine 5K. For the past couple of weeks the two of us have been running to get ready for this race. It has been difficult since one of us has to watch the girls while the other runs. Our evenings have been dinner, clean up, my run, my shower, then Jeff runs with Bella, our golden retreiver. However very few nights happen that easily. Usually I am the only one who runs due to the fact that I'm the one training for the marathon. So needless to say Jeff only ran 4-5 times before the race. It was great though because we ended up running at the same pace! I was worried that my run would be equivalent to his walk due to our difference in height! So the 5K was our first time running together. The race had a good turn out and it was fun to run around the area that Jeff is developing. (He works for 3CDC redeveloping Over the Rhine) About a half a mile into the race Jeff turned to me and said, " This is really fun!" I answered, "Yeah, I know. Running in a race is more fun than running on your own." He said, "No...I mean running with you." So sweet I know! Jeff and I had a great time running together. We weren't competing. I just needed to get my 3 mile run in. We did struggle up this killer hill and had to walk a couple times. But we still made it to the finish line around 29 minutes. It was a great kick off to my training season!

June 1:

Ok so Sunday I was to crosstrain. As of now my crosstrain of choice is to do Barry's Bootcamp, an exercise video I purchased from an infomercial. About of month ago I was up with Grace in the middle of the night. We only have basic cable so there was literally nothing on TV but infomercials and the Farmers Report. So I found myself watching about a guy named Barry and his bootcamp that will, of course, get you in shape and give you the body of your dreams! Now maybe it was the lack of sleep or horomones, but I was convinced I needed this bootcamp! Unfortunetly I didn't have a pen or pencil to write down the number. I figured I could just look it up online the next day. Well when I tried I thought it was called Billy's Bootcamp and I kept getting sites about Taebo. I was totallly bummed out and frantically searching for the commercial during late nights with the baby. Finally after a rough night with the girls, Jeff took over rocking Grace at about 3 in the morning. About an hour later he woke me up because he found the infomercial again. I sprang out of bed and raced downstairs for a pen! I know...total dork! I ended up being so excited that I ordered it the next day. The first time I tried it, my sister Cory was over and decided to try it with me. We were laughing so hard doing the different exercises that I thought I would pee my pants! The program has a 21 minute upper body video and lower body video that alternates one minute of weight training with one minute of some type of aerobic torture. So on Sundays and Tuesdays, my crosstraining days, I am doing both upper and lower body workouts for a good 45 minute workout. And let me tell you, it is kicking my butt!

June 2:

Today was a hill day, 2 miles. Since I live in Cincinnati, pretty much any run will be a hill run. I ran a mile down and back on Winton road. Since it was only 2 miles I didn't stop to walk and kept an average pace of 8:49. One of my goals is to become a faster runner. I certainly don't have the natural talent for it, just ask anyone who saw me run track in high school. (I never came in last...just second to last every race!) When I trained for the Flying Pig, my usual pace was a 10 minute mile so I'm feeling better about my pace. So how did I know my pace? Am I just that good at math? No way! I forgot to mention that for my birthday I got probably the best running tool I ever have had. I bought the ipod+ shoes, the ones that have a chip in the shoe that connects to your ipod. So every time I work out it records the distance, pace, time, everything! It has been great!

June 3:

Crosstraining...Barry killed me again. One of these days I'll get it. I do my bootcamp videos in the basement while Ava is taking her afternoon nap. I drag the baby swing downstairs where, hopefully, if I've timed it just right with feedings, Grace will fall asleep too. During this workout Grace actually stayed awake the entire time just watching me. I can only imagine what she was thinking!