Bring on the Bridge week 4

2010-08-23

According to my handy dandy widget, the Wilson Bridge Half marathon is now 26 days away, and I am in week four of my Bring on the Bridge mission. I have been doing alot of thinking about my running- why I run, when I run, and how it impacts my life.  During BlogHer, the amazing Carmen of Diets in Review asked various runners about how they made the time given their busy schedules as moms on video. Check out these amazing tips:

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I realized that for me, it took my need to get over the mommy guilt associated with giving up time with Principessa to get a run in.  But I realized then, as I realize now- that my running makes me a better mamma.  I am happier when I run.  Even when I busy beyond busy and should probably take a few things off my plate, running cannot be one of those things.  And the races?  I certainly do not run races to win, but the excitement of a race is a motivator.

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Oh yeah–back to my training for this race.  My goal this week, set by MCM Mama,  was to run twice, cross train (or run again) once, and then complete a long run of 8 miles.

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My progress:

I ran an outside run of 4.83 miles and then an inside, treadmill run of 4 miles. The outside run went ok…it was hot and I was sweaty.  As in drip drip.  The inside run consisted of intervals including speed and incline.  I have to admit, despite the heat and humidity, I am enjoying my outside runs more than ever now that I get to play with my very cool Garmin gadget.  It is my very own Inspector Gadget Garmin Watch!  All I have to do is click on my go-go gadget training button, it locates the satellites, and I am off.  When I get home, I upload the data, and voila! There is my run…in all it’s data glory.

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My long run was also (thankfully) a success.  I ran 8.0 miles on the Washington & Old Dominion trail.  I made sure to start earlier this time…even though it was a much cooler day.  Off I went….with a new playlist on my iPhone, and a Carb Boom Gel to take just before mile 4.

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I ran out 3.  The first three were easy. I kept telling myself that my pace needed to be slow enough where I felt as if I could run forever.  It worked.  I and contemplated going until 4 before turning around, but the trail was through a neighborhood (and looked a bit hilly)–so I turned around. Sipping my sticky gooey Carb Boom double espresso gel (yeah for caffeine!) around mile 4, I was a bit thirsty- wishing that I had water, but overall, continued to feel strong.   Getting back to where I started (marking the 6 mile mark), I went out another mile (and found a water fountain–woo hoo!) and then turned back, bringing me to the magic number of 8.

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Theoretically, I was supposed to run 8.25 miles for MCM Mama’s virtual race, to celebrate her birthday….but I decided to follow directions for once and run only 8.  Technically speaking with my cool down, I did 8.25…with a time of 90 minutes.

(also technically speaking one of the options was to run 4 miles…so if we go with that scenario, I ran 4 miles in 43:17.  That sounds better than 8.25 in 90 minutes.)

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I ran it in 86 minutes with an average pace of 10:48.  So not only did I run the mileage, but I was successful in slowing down (but not quite to turtle speeds).

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Back at my car, I opened my Zico cocunut water, and sipped it as I cooled down by walking around the parking lot.  Despite the cooler temps, I was a sweaty mess.  Oh well, it is good that one does not need to look good while running to be able to do it.  Beyond the sweat (and seriously, there was alot of it) and runny nose (running somehow makes me snotty)….I felt good…successful, and confident that I might actually be able to take on the bridge in 26 days.

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xo

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C.Mom

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Tagged as: running, Wilson Bridge half marathon