I'm back in the saddle again!

Oh how I love the day of rest. Although I rested Friday (but I felt guilty about it). I slept so good last night and just didn't want to get up this morning so I slept until 8:45. Off to get ready for church and looking forward to this week. My right knee is a little poppy like.

Went to the gym and did shoulders/tris/abs and then jumped on the treadmill and did 6 1/2 miles in 1 hour. 9:13 pace. It felt really great and very comfortable and just what I needed. I love when I have a nice recovery run that feels effortless. Tomorrow won't be quite as easy with hills at speed group.

Well, I met the B-Buttkickers at Parkway Palisades at 5:30. We warmed up for 2 1/2 then went to P. Palisades Dr. and did 1 mile hill repeats with active recovery in between. We did 4 of these and then did 1 minute sprints up the hill at the end and recovered for about a half mile at the end. I forgot my Garmin this morning so I went off Julie's and she had that we did 8:32 average with recovery and all. I feel great and it was a great work-out. I was a little nervous to do hills this morning cuz my lower back and left leg were bugging me a bit last night. I called my neighbor (chiropractor) and he fixed me up and then I iced it good after and woke up feeling good. My left calf was still a little tight the first mile or so but loosened up and felt better. Thanks BB's for another great run. Can't wait for Saturday!!!

Well, for every great day it seems there needs to be a crappy day that follows. I went to step class (which I normally love) and it sucked today. She did so much jumpings and turning and I thought I was going to fall on my butt. My shins really started to hurt too. My lower back is still giving me a little grief so I am off to the Chiropractor this afternoon. I think my hip flexors are really tight and that is what is causing my back pain. I'm really trying to stretch good and hopefully it'll feel better. After Step I jumped on the treadmill and ran 1 1/2 miles to finish out my workout. Also did Back/biceps and lots of stretching.

Ran with Julie and Angela today. Wanted to have a nice easy recovery paced run but of course we end up running a little faster than planned. It felt like a comfortable speed though and I feel good now so maybe my slow days should be a little faster than I think. We talked the whole time very easily so who knows. Hopefully it was slow enough and I have enough juice for Saturday. Taking tomorrow off totally and I am going to stretch and ice today and tomorrow. I think my back pain is due to really tight hip flexors so a little stretching will probably do some good. Overall pace-8:38

Well, I went to bed last night a little tired but woke up very refreshed this morning. I am glad I am taking the day off. My back is still hurting a little but nothing major so I'm hoping that some rest today will really help it and I will be ready to go tomorrow.

Ate groats and eggs for breakfast @ 4:45. Took Imodium and 3 Ibuprofin. Drank a Zip Fizz and 1/2 Clif Bar @ 6:00.  Got to start line at 7:00 and got to what we thought was a good position but ended up being further back than we thought. Race started at 7:30 and I got stuck behind the big slow group so my first mile kind of sucked. I ran with my next door neighbor (Jake) that is 16 and Julie. The most Jake has ever run is 8 miles and I was so impressed that he kept up and ended up sprinting at the end and beating me by about 5-10 seconds. What a stud!!! Julie did so awesome also. She really keeps me going. She is such a great running partner. She keeps MY head on straight.

1-7:52   Lots of slow peoples I had to pass. Kind of ticks you off when they are taking up the whole road and you have to exert more energy to pass. Oh well, next time I'll get further up front.

2-7:02   Feeling good

3-7:31   Still good. Took Lemon Lime GU.

4-6:52   Sped up hoping to make up a little time from 1st mile.

5-7:40   Hmmm? Dunno, I think this is where my left leg started really hurting.

6-5:58   Well, I think I felt a little too good.

7-7:34   Now I'm payin' for it. Almost puked.

8-7:26   Still Payin'

9-7:17   Right on

10-7:14 Feelin' good. Took an Espresso Love GU

11:7:42  Starting to get tired

12-7:29 Really tired.

13-7:19 Adrenaline kicked in.

.02-:05 Yeah!!!

I measured 13.02 (a little short), everyone else measured around 12.90, so I don't know what the actual distance was. I am so excited cuz I beat my goal by 3 minutes!!! It is now 4:20 and I just got home from my sons football game and I am feeling awesome. A little tired but not too bad.