eat...sleep...eat...train...eat...work...repeat...

Juli!! Poor you! I hope you're able to find relief from the toe-stubbing. That stuff is so annoying. To say nothing of painful. In the meantime, experiment with totally wild nailcolor to cover the boo-boo. :-)

This past week had me doing two 3-milers and a 6-miler that I supplemented with a pool workout and a couple of bike rides. This coming week, I ramp the mileage back up and also start doing interval workouts. I've never been a fan of intervals...I know they're supposed to make me stronger and faster and build my endurance, blah blah blah. That doesn't make me like them any more. This is the first time I'll incorporate weekly interval workouts into my training. We'll see if I grow to like them. It may be one of those fake-it-til-I-make-it situations!!

Okay, let's talk food! Juli, I can totally relate to what you're going through. Your metabolism has always been sky-high, so add into the mix regular intense activity, and you have to get creative about how to eat enough without sabotaging your hard work. Easy enough to eat a lot of calories...harder to eat enough high-quality calories. The best foods are sometimes the lowest in calories (see: fruits and vegetables). And seriously, how many carrots can one person stand?

I've learned that the benefits of training come not when we're running or zumba-ing or swimming or whatever...but rather when we're not. What we do "off-hours" is almost the most important factor, specifically, how much sleep we get and what we eat to recover and refuel. It's so important not only to eat and drink enough to replenish what's been depleted from training, but also to eat and drink enough all the time. When my training volume gets really high I end up resorting to recovery smoothies. As much as I love food, I get tired of eating, so it's easier for me to drink my calories, especially right after working out, and recovery drinks can pack a lot of calories in a small package. There are so many out there...experiment and find several you like. My faves have olive oil as a main ingredient, which leads me to my next suggestion...

...make sure you're eating enough fat. Earlier this summer, before the wheels fell off the bus, I stopped worrying about buying the low-fat versions of this-and-that. Bring on the full-fat yogurt and nut butters and avocados and cheese!

PS--I'm up to my eyeballs in articles and books on this kind of stuff, all of it really helpful. I'm happy to share.

Those are my two cents! Now, can anyone tell me how to get more sleep??!! Sure wish there was a fast-track recovery-smoothie for sleep...

I'M HUNGRY!

Hi Everyone! What a wonderful weekend it was! What did ya'll do? Today was a great day of rest except for stubbing my toe so bad I think I may lose my big toe nail!!!  I'll see if it impacts my run tomorrow. Stay tunned!

This coming week will bring some 3's, 4 and a 5 mile run. Am I ready?  I'm amazed at how mental this sport is.  I am so thankful that I have close friends to talk with and that continiue to motivate me.  When my energy is low, I think about Jen, Nikki, Lisa, Becky, Jacqulin, and Erica are out there busting the pavement or trail, so I better get a move on it:)))

I think this week we should consider and talk about FOOD.  I am so hungry all the time, all day l ong, but especially at night.  I know I need to probably eat more, but it needs to be the right things.  I'm going to do some research on that, but in the mean time, maybe you guys know the answer!

11 Weeks

Wow I couldn't believe it when I read that our 1/2 marathon is in 11 weeks! For some reason that sounds much sooner than October 9th. I am really looking forward to seeing old friends again and meeting new friends who love to run as much as I do. I have started off my training by biking 56 miles yesterday morning as I find cross training is the best way for me to train for a run. I will run 5 miles tomorrow and 7 miles on Saturday. I love the 9,1 which is run 9 minutes and walk 1 minute and have found it a very useful tool. Does anyone else use this tool or have any other helpful training tips? One more thing - I read in Runner's World that eating a Popsicle or ice before running in the heat really helps - I haven't tried it yet but it sounded like a great idea.

Happy Training!

DENVER 1/2 - Here I come!

Hi Running Friends and Friends of Friends!

I bought my plane ticket BOS to DEN this morning. It makes the race so much more real - now I REALLY need to start training. My "Summer of Dessert" celebration must come to an early end and I will be at the mercy of the treadmill (tho it is climate controlled, so I can't complain) until the kids are back in school (Aug 30th). Slightly worried about the difference in altitude... but from what I've read I don't think there's anything I can do about that. But if you have any suggestions, I'd love to hear them! I ran 3 miles yesterday on a 2.0 incline - today will be some strength training. After being away from home (and my exercise routine) for 3 weeks, I have a lot of catching up to do and soreness to work through, but it's all good. For those of you running out in the heat - don't forget your water! Drink up! ~ Lisa

11 weeks to go

Well, running in heat is hard for me so I agree with the early 5 a.m. running. I am finally in a routine of lifting a little so I think that is helping too. I'd love some rocking tunes to add to my ipod to keep me going if people have any suggestions. Also, like Juli, I start back to work this week so I will have to adjust my sleep schedule to keep energy up for training. Best to you all--hope this week running goes well. Ill have to try the pool running--never have!!

Amen sister...

...the heat is a real buzzkill!! Pretty much the only good thing about running at 5 am is that it's nice and cool. And I get it over with early in the day. Did 3 miles this morning. Thursday will be another 3. This is my "light" week. I'm looking forward to a pool workout later this week. I'm totally digging running in the pool--have any of you tried it? It's fun!!

~ Jen

I love this!!

Juli!! Thank you for connecting us all, my friend. I'm excited to hear from ya'll, about what and how you're doing. I love that we're coming from near and far for this race. I think Lisa (Boston) wins for being the farthest away, yes? I've sent the link to Jacquline, too, as she's also racing.

Let this be a place for us to celebrate our successes and download our frustrations, to seek advice and give support. I'll start.

This race holds much meaning for me. I've desperately missed racing this year. More than that, I've desperately missed simply being active this summer. As I get back into training, I sometimes feel like I'm starting over. My pace isn't what it used to be. And yet, I don't care. I just want to RUN. To MOVE, to feel the breath in my lungs, to be among the living.

So this race meaning many things--doing what I love with the ladies I love in the city I love.

I have a hat from a previous race that says "I run, therefore I am." I get it now. Nothing makes me feel more alive than pure movement.

What makes you feel alive?

~ Jen

Getting the kinks out

Hi Lisa, Becky, Jen and Nikki!  Sorry for the initial difficulty getting on.  This is my first Blog so I'm just learning:)))  I'm still waiting to hear from my niece Erica to get on.
OK.  Today was a lifting/crosstraining day for me, so I got up early and did ZUMBA at the Rec Center, then lifted.  I'm focusing more on strengthening my knee muscles and lower back. I'm alittle tired today but am invigorated by all you training with me.  Yesterdays 3 mile run was great, but hot even at 8:00 in the morning.  I start back to work with the district this thrusday so I'm gonna have to start a new work out routine to accomodate more things on my schedule. Late runs will be brutal, so we'll see if I can squeeze myself out of bed earlier to get it in before work.  How's it going for you guys?

WELCOME!

Hi Everyone! This is Juli!
It's time to get geared up for the Denver Rock-n-Roll Half-Marathon!! What a beautiful place to RUN!!  I'm so proud of everyone that has committed to this great feat!    Hopefully everyone has begun a little training since we are 11 weeks out. This is going to be a fast 11 weeks I'm afraid.  It's been very difficult to run in this heat, to say the least, so I'm hoping this blog can help motivate, stimulate, and provoke us to get out there.  We have several friends of all ages coming together to accomplish this goal, so lets do it together and talk about it.  We have an expert/veteran amongst us, then there's the ones that have done a little of this and a little of that, some have one half under thier belt and ready for the next, then we have the virgin!  The common goals and interests we share are LOVE, PEACE, HEALTH and HAPPINESS (and a little wine too)! 
Please comment, add your thoughts and questions whenever you feel like it, or just read what others have said.

Who's out there??