Loony Challenge - 16 Weeks To Go

Weekly Miles Planned: 32
Actual: 27 miles run; Almost 15 miles walked; 3+ 'miles' on the elliptical

Long Run Miles Planned: 8
Actual: 8.36 miles on Monday

 Sunday Planned: 6-10 Miles at MAF, Sunday Kettlebell Workout, Sunday Abs
Actual:
Run:  Run 1 mile on the track.  3.65 elliptical 'miles'.  Sunday's workout is moved to another day where there's not a heat advisory.
Weights: Sunday Kettlebell workout as a 7/6/5/4/3/2/1 without as much resting, slightly lighter weights, because I was pressed for time
Abs: 39 seconds on, 21 seconds off
Bonus 7 mile walk with Dungeon Master
Nutrition: Am still on W30.  And I have made the best pork shoulder ever.

 Monday Planned: 6-10 Miles at MAF, Plyos
Actual: 8.37 miles in the morning.  Apparently my average HR was 139.  This was a somewhat frustrating run becuase the trail was apparently closed, but not marked well, so I had to run through a construction zone because I was too far in between bridges to turn around by that point.
Plyos: 3x10.  I did two sets warming up and one set at the end of the run.
Nutrition: I looked for all of the legal foods at a Chinese restaurant, and I did better than you'd expect. And then I forgot Edamame was soy, remembered, and then decided not to care because it was the only green part of my meal.

Tuesday Planned: 4-6 Miles at MAF, Lift Weights
Actual:
Run: 4.57 miles in the morning, Avg HR 134, stretching afterwards.
Weights: Tuesday weights.  I need to get clear on my barbell row weight.  I think it's 75lbs.  80lbs was too much.  I am being more purposeful about my weight lifting warm up.  Next: ankle mobility in squats.
Nutrition: Steak and potatoes for dinner.  Mmm.

Wednesday Planned: 1 Mile Run
Actual: 1.20 miles run in the morning.
Nutrition: Snuck in a trip to Punch with Qat Lady

Thursday Planned: 4-6 Miles at MAF, Lift Weights
Actual:
Run: 4.5 miles around Lake Nokomis.  I was running as my alter ego, Captain Grumpy Pants.  Avg HR 139.
Weights: Thursday weights.  Overhead press felt harder today.  This was not the time to go up in weights.
Nutrition: I have not yet screwed up my birthday nutrition.  Saturday is a planned failure and that will be enough. Also, I'm learning about something called Keto Toast.  I haven't made it yet.  Ingredients are W30 complaint, though I'm sure people would tell me it's not in the spirit.

Friday Planned: 1 Mile Run
Actual:
Run: 6.21 miles run, Avg HR 136
Plyos: 3 sets of 10 each.  1 before the run and 2 sets afterwards.
Bonus Walk with Dungeon Master, 7.95 miles.  Everything hurts now.  (I ran today so I could just do my mile tomorrow; I knew I'd be worn out.)
Nutrition: Tomorrow is a planned failure for nutrition and tonight I was all "I should really go all out and have illegal stuff at every meal"  But then the healthy part of my brain was all "we can try just having a small piece of cake and doing all the things in moderation; that's much more sustainable"  Progress.


Saturday Planned: 4-6 Miles at MAF, Plyos
Actual: 1.21 miles run in the morning.  And I'm so happy with myself for doing the real work yesterday.
Nutrition: This is a day of planned failure.  So far, I've eaten the rice out of my freezer and the sour patch kids out of my pantry.

We Walk 14 Weeks To Go (Part 2)

Plan: Walk 2:50 or so.  Try not to get too hot. 
Route: Dungeon Master picked the route.  We started up by her place, walked to a lake, around it clockwise, and then once counter clockwise and then home.
Weather: I thought it was hot.  80* or so, sunny.  It was a gorgeous day
Wardrobe: Brooks shorts, my bike shirt which henceforth will be the shirt I always wear on these runs because of the pockets, visor, Altras.   And I poured water on myself at every water fountain we saw.  Dungeon Master thought I was a bit nuts but I assure you, it was the right decision.
Execution: I thought it went really well.  I was a bit stiff by the end, especially in my ankles and IT bands, but I didn't get too hot.
Nutrition: In addition to the water I poured on my head, I had a couple salt pills and a Larabar.  This was a late afternoon walk so I'd already had breakfast and lunch.
Bonus: I'm sitting here and I've yet to have dinner.  But, I just made a (virgin) blended drink with strawberries and fizzy water and it's excellent.

We Walk - 14 Weeks To Go

Plan: Stay inside, try not to get bored.
Route: We walked the indoor track at the gym.
Weather: Why were we inside? Because there's a heat advisory.  When I woke up at 5am, it was already over 80*. 
Wardrobe: I did not wear my PC socks, and did not get blisters.  So, that question is now resolved. Sad though, because my legs are sore.
Execution: So, what actually happened was I arrived at the gym, ran my mile, did Sunday Weights, and then jumped on the elliptical until Dungeon Master arrived. We did our 7 miles walk, and then I did Sunday abs and stretched.
Nutrition:  Before going to the gym, I had half an avocado and a few slices of bacon.  At the gym, I had a water bottle and only one Larabar.  I thought I had more than one bar, but no, packing fail. 
Bonus: It actually was not quite as hot as I expected when we walked back outside.
We are up to about 2:30 of walking, with a goal to build up to 4:30 before the race.

Loony Challenge - 17 Weeks To Go. Step back week.

Step Back Week
Weekly Miles Planned: 20-25
Actual: 19+ miles run; 2+ miles walked

Long Run Miles Planned: Lol.  No.
Actual: Thursday's 6.36 miles is the longest.

Sunday Planned:t 1-6 Miles Run at MAF, Sunday Kettlebell Workout, Sunday Abs
Actual: 1.21 miles run.
Nutrition: This is the strongest my cravings have been since starting W30 this round.  I want bread and butter so hard it's not funny.  Also, it's so much easier to be like 'just take a cheat day' becuase this round is so much longer than 30 days.  Like, 1 piece of candy in early June is not going to make a bad race.  Calm down.  And then I feel guilty about that too.  Sigh.
Ok, update: I had candy in my car from preW30 and I ate it.  I feel, legit, so much better.  So I'm glad I gave into the craving.  So, 13 days of W30 and then a break and I'm fine with it. 

Monday Planned: 1-6 Miles Run at MAF, Plyos
Actual: 3.2 miles around Lake Nokomis at Avg HR 142.  Plyos, 3 sets of 9, as part of the warm up.  No one is more surprised than me that this run actually happened.
Nutrition: I cooked bay scallops for dinner.  Today started with a doctor appointment and then a dentist appointment.  And then I tok a trunk load (literally a trunk load) of stuff to Good Will.  And this was a thing that happened with some old rags.

Tuesday Planned: 1-6 Miles Run at MAF, Lift Weights
Actual: 
Run: 1.35 miles on the treadmill.   Forgot to turn on my watch until .32 miles in.  Sigh.
Elliptical: 35 minutes of the elliptical
Weights: Tuesday weights.  I have corrected my squats to include a greater range of motion and significantly less weight.  I need to work on my ankle strength apparently.
Nutrition: I had Punch with Qat Lady and My Pooky Bear.  Pooky and I planned our birthday party that will not be at my house.  Apparently I have another Not W30 day coming up.  Butter cream frosting will be involved.

Wednesday Planned: 1 Mile Run
Actual: 1.2 miles in the sun, slowly.
Nutrition: I had a left over pork chop, and then I made a marinade for pork shoulder which will be supper tomorrow.  I went shopping.  I remembered toilet paper.  I did not know I was almost out of lime juice.  Still, progress.

Thursday Planned: 1-6 Miles Run at MAF, Lift Weights
Actual:
Run: 6.36 miles.  It was supposed to be 6, but I took the wrong path for a minute.  This was mostly intervals because I ran in the afternoon. (It's a step back week and I was tired in the morning.)
Weights: Thursday weights. Squats are still a procedure.  One day soon, maybe I will try to do an overhead press with 55lbs (my current is 50lbs).
Abs: Sunday abs today to make up for not doing them earlier.

Nutrition: I cooked for the Dungeon Master.  My pulled pork was on point.

Friday Planned: 1 Mile Run
Actual: 5.26 miles in the early early morning.  Plyos before, and after, total of 3x10 just in case things go nuts tomorrow.
Nutrition: I'm trying flourless banana muffins, which are technically not W30, but suck on it.  There's no sugar so I'm fine.

Saturday Planned: 1-6 Miles at MAF, Plyos, Walk with Dungeon Master?
Actual: 1.21 miles run in the morning.  In the rain.  It was either rain or heat.
Nutrition: Used my quarterly discount at the co op, so yeah, I bought all the food.

Loony Challenge - 18 Weeks To Go

Weekly Miles Planned: 31
Actual: 32+ miles run; 14 miles walked. 

Long Run Miles Planned: 8
Actual: 8.4 on Sunday. That was a long way.

Sunday Planned: 6-10 Miles at MAF, Sunday Kettlebell Workout, Sunday Abs
Actual:
Run: 8.4 miles Avg HR 136. This run was starting around 5:30am.
Sunday Kettlebells - done.  Most of the shoulder press are now done with a 10Kg weight, though the last set still with an 8kg bell.
Sunday abs - increased the 'working' sets to 37 seconds (building up to 50 or 55)
Bonus walk with Dungeon Master - 7 miles at Palmer Lake
Nutrition: Let's talk about all of the food I've eaten so far and how hungry I still am. I had this moment on my run where I was all 'I'll just run over to Birchwood and get a savory waffle' in my head.  And I was really enjoying that idea until other me in my head was all 'WTF.  You are on Whole30.  No Waffles!' Sigh.
Instead I'm marinated a pork chop for supper and a flank steak for lunches for the week and trying not to think about waffles or anything nice.

Monday Planned: 6-10 Miles at MAF, Plyos
Actual: Run: 8 miles mostly at intervals of running 4 minutes and walking 2 minutes (after I ran my mile) becuase it was crazy hot.  Last week I realized I'd rather run slowly in the heat than go indoors and deal with the treadmill, track, or elliptical. I am what I am.
Plyos: 3 sets of 8 after the run.  I'm considering doing these at the start of the run because I'm usually toast afterwards.
Nutrition: Still going strong on the Whole30 that I've modified to survive the next 18 weeks. Happy I packed lunch for after the run.  It's the summer so I've also started packing a fizzy water, something that does not happen during the winter.

Tuesday Planned: 4-6 Miles at MAF, Lift Weights
Actual: Run 5.25 miles in the morning.  Avg HR 137
Weights - Tuesday weights in the afternoon.  I've been squatting 95lbs for a while now, and it's so much weight I don't ever want to do more.  My arms, on the other hand, are getting a bit stronger and it's possible I'll add weight to them sometime this year.
Nutrition: Went out to Chilis with Pooky Bear and Qat Lady.  I had a steak, broccoli and mashed potatoes.  The potatoes almost certainly were not W30 compliant but whatever.

Wednesday Planned: 1 Mile Run
Actual: 1.24 miles.  Happy Global Running Day.
Nutrition: I had banana pancakes.  I flaunt the 'no pancakes' rule on W30.  I am what I am.

Thursday Planned: 4-6 Miles at MAF, Lift Weights
Actual:  Run: 4.5 miles around Lake Nokomis.  Avg HR 138.  Enjoyed the weather.
Weights: Thursday weights.

Nutrition: My first meal was at 2pm and it was bacon and eggs. Is that good or bad?  My first meal was so late because I woke up late, worked out, got coffee, and went to Bed Bath and Beyond for a couple things I've been wanting for a while.

Friday Planned: 1 Mile Run
Actual: 1.2 miles in the morning.
Nutrition: Managed not to screw anything up yesterday.  I'll take it.

Saturday Planned: 4-6 Miles at MAF, Plyos
Actual: 3.88 miles run around Bde Maka Ska, Avg HR 140.  7 mile walk around Isles with Dungeon Master.  I did manage to get Plyos done as well.
Nutrition: So far, I've had an RX Bar, half an avocado, and 4 hard boiled eggs.  Now I'm sitting on the couch drinking coffee and planning on relaxing most of the day.

We Walk - 16 Weeks To Go

Plan: Walk for 2:30
Route: Lake of the Isles today.  We did 75 minutes counter clockwise, and then finished up going clockwise.

Weather: The clockwise lap was a bit faster becuase it was raining out.  Don't worry.  Weather channel said it was supposed to just be cloudy today.  
Wardrobe: I think my Pro Compression socks are the reason I have a blister/hot spot on the balls of my feet at the end of these walks.  It hurts me to say this because those socks are responsible for some very good feelings in my legs as well.  I'll have to try something else next week and see.
Execution: Dungeon Master says we were slower than last week.  She might be right.  We covered about the same amount of ground in 5 minutes longer.

Nutrition: Let's talk about all the food I ate. I actually did my run on an empty stomach.  When I got back to my car I had half an avocado and two hard boiled eggs.  Dungeon Master arrived as I was getting all that down.  During the walk I had an Rx Bar.  Post walk I had two more hard boiled eggs.
Bonus: Now I'm sitting on my couch drinking coffee and listening to the rain that wasn't supposed to exist today.

Global Running Day: Would you rather?

I'm reading some of my favorite blogs and they're all asking the same questions for Global Running Day.  And I'm all, do you know me? 

Run with no socks or no sports bra?  I do actually run without socks from time to time.  Though this is not well known.

Run a mile naked or in a snow suit? Here's the first "do you know me?"
Run in the freezing cold or in the sweltering heat? And the second, "do you know me?"
Run on an empty stomach or full bladder? I do run on an empty stomach for most of my runs.  This is also not well known.  All of my runs in the morning are fasted, except long runs which usually get half a salted avocado before heading out.
Run uphill or into a headwind?  Uphill.  Headwinds never end.
Run without music or without a GPS watch? I do run without music when I'm outside.
Skip deodorant or Body Glide?  You chafe less than you'd think in a snow suit.

Run as much as you want on the treadmill or only once/week outside? I didn't get this question at first.  I think it's asking would you tolerate running on a treadmill, or would you hold off running unless you could go outside.  And honestly, if the blizzard didn't stop me, what conditions would force me inside so frequently?
Run a beer mile or a color run?  Neither?

Run a trail or the road? I love them both so hard.  I run significantly more miles on the road though.
Run an out and back or a loop? I do both.  Whatever I'm in the mood that day, and somewhat determined by where I am able to run as well.
Eat a slice of pizza mid-race or drink a milkshake?  Here's another random "do you know me?" because I hate pizza.

Run in the rain or snow?  I've done at least one long run and some of my best races in the rain.  I'd pick rain in general, the footing is a bit easier to work with than snow.

Beer or chocolate milk at the finish line?  The final "do you know me?"

Long Run Sunday

Plan: 8 Miles at MAF.  Keep the heart rate low. 
Lift weights
Abs workout
PS, this has to be done at the crack of dawn because I have to walk with Dungeon Master later in the day.

Route: Started at the gym (see lifting weights) and ran the Franklin Lake Street loop before heading back along the Greenway.

Weather: Cloudy and windy.  The wind was for reals.
Wardrobe: Shorts that are not meant for long runs, shirt, nothing too exciting.

Execution: I was a bit nervous in the beginning with what my heart rate was doing, but I think it turned out fine.  I got stronger as time went on.
Nutrition: Half a salted avocado before the work out.  Lots of water and breakfast afterwards.
Bonus: After the workout, I went home and did touch up painting in my bathroom.  I'm sticking a fork in that and calling it done.

We Walk- 17/16 Weeks To Go

Plan: Walk for 2 hours and 20 minutes, up from 2 hours last weekend.
Route: Walked counter clockwise around Palmer Lake for 1:10, then turned around and walked the other way for 1:10.
Dungeon Master was all "let's do this other thing...." and I was all "No.  That's too far."  That's been me for all of the training sessions we've had.  "No.  That's too far."
Weather: Astonishingly windy. It was in the 60s but the real feels was in the 50s. No rain.
Wardrobe: I think I'm done with my Altras.  They are rubbing the soles of my feet in a way I  don't like when I walk.
Altras, compression socks, shorts, biking top (because of the pockets in the back), arm sleeves, and sometimes a shirt on top of that.
Execution: We did really well. We held about a 20min/mile pace the whole time.
Nutrition: I had a canteloupe, bacon, eggs before the walk.  (But after an 8 mile run and lifting weights.) I had an RX bar, two salt tabs, two bottles of water on the walk.  Afterwards I had half an avocado and 3 hard boiled eggs. I'm full just looking at that.
Bonus:  Tried to get a picture of us.  We are out of focus but the grass looks great.

Loony Challenge - 19 Weeks to go

Weekly Miles Planned: 31
Actual: 28+ miles run; 2+ miles walked.  I'm calling it good.

Long Run Miles Planned: 6
Actual: 6.36 on Sunday

Sunday Planned: 6-10 Miles at MAF, Sunday Kettlebell Workout, Sunday Abs
Actual:
Run: 6.36 miles, Avg HR 140.  This was really hot.
Kettlebells: Done
Abs: Also done, made a workout on my interval timer for this
Nutrition: Did not eat before the workout.  I had a banana afterwards as hanger food.

Monday Planned: 6-10 Miles at MAF, Plyos
Actual: 1.2 miles around 9am.  I woke up, saw the temperature, and went right back to bed.  It was already pretty hot when I ran my mile, and will get even hotter throughout the day.
Nutrition: Also around 9am, I realized I didn't have anything to feed myself for lunch this week.  So I got in the car and headed over to the co-op before it got too hot.

Tuesday Planned: 4-6 Miles at MAF, Lift Weights
Actual:
Run: 4.15 miles, Avg HR 141.  This run was really hot and there was walking up the hills.  But this run is done and it was done outside.
Weights: Tuesday weight lifting in the afternoon.
Nutrition: Went to Punch with Qat Lady and My Pooky Bear.  Went back into 'resist the bread' mode while I was there. Oh, Whole30, the things you do to me.  For next week, I asked Pooky Bear to pick either a place with awesome salad, or a steak.

Wednesday Planned: 1 Mile Run
Actual: 1.21 miles run.  Some walking in the afternoon to fight off a head ache.
Nutrition: I did not resort to drinking when I got some frustrating news, so I'm proud of that.

Thursday Planned: 4-6 Miles at MAF, Lift Weights
Actual:
Run: 5.5 miles run in the heat.  I could've made other choices here.
Weights:Thursday weights.
Bonus abs workout.  I decided it'd be good to do this more than once/week and I was in the mood.
Nutrition: I had post run snack to fight off the hanger before dinner. That was a good move.  Captain Smiley came over and ate with me.  He fixed my mental health which had been failing for the past couple of days, so that was also awesome.

Friday Planned: 1 Mile Run
Actual:
Run: 4.16 miles run
Plyos 1x15  This is swapped with Monday's run because weather.
Nutrition: So, I'm priming my whole bathroom and fingers crossed the ceiling gets straight up painted tonight as well. Breakfast and lunch were fine and then 'dinner' was a shake of coconut milk, almond butter, banana and cocoa.  It filled me up so far, so I'm okay with it.  I told my friend Olive that I wish I was drinking right now because tonight after all the painting, it would taste sooooo good.

Saturday Planned: 4-6 Miles at MAF, Plyos
Actual:
Run 6.1 miles, Avg HR 137
Plyos 2 sets of 10
Nutrition: Still doing the Whole30 thing, though there is some cheese in my fridge I feel bad about not eating.

May Goals Updates

I realize I'm a slacker and got this up a bit late.

Eating:
I restarted Whole30 when I got back from seeing Mom and Dad. I'd looked in the mirror frequently in Cincinnati and I was just ready for my body to look different.  So this will be like a "whole100" or something.  I'll try to keep it up 'till Loony.

Running:
Keep up the streak. - Yes
Keep weight lifting 3 days/week. - Went back to 3 days/week to train for Loony.
Cross train with Zumba. - So much no.  Sigh.

Races: 
Loony Challenge in October - started training for reals
Also training for a walking half marathon with The Dungeon Master.
Break 30:00 in a 5K - no progress here
Continue MAF training through June. - I think I'll keep this up 'till Loony.

Blogging:
Meal per day Whole30 Posts daily, all publish at the ‘end’ of the Whole30. - I'm trying something new for my  Whole100 and just have nutrition comments in my race training posts.
Race Training posts weekly.  - One down, many more to come.

General life stuff:
Read 12 books in 2018. Read 50 books in 2018. - I took a break after one of the books totally wrecked me, but I'm getting back to it now.  I'm almost through my next one thanks to painting my bathroom
Volunteer at a race. - Done in May and it was a lot of fun.
Learn to french braid my hair. - No progress