Ok, so Bill had this bright idea that he now wants to start doing some interval training.....something he knows would help him and he should have been doing all along. He now has a new goal for Maui Marathon and wants to work towards it for the next few months, with interval training being one part of it. He mentions it at running on Saturday and Melissa and Kristin pipe up that they'd be interested. Now with others on board...it is to become a reality. Sundays become the day to do this (and we later decide that some weeks will be hill workout too).

We had to find a track as Case's isn't open to the public, and Horlick's is in terrible shape. Luckily Park's isn't too bad. We meet there and get going. Four laps to warm up, then 6x400s---one lap around at a faster pace, then jog/walk for half a lap or about 2 minutes, repeat for a total of 6 times, then 4 laps to cool down. It works out to be 4.5 miles, with the speed workout as the newer challenge. At the end of it all, I realize that I did the 400s in about 1:43-1:56 minutes (which works out to be 6:45-7:40 minute mile pace). That's a good push and should help with speed a bit if we do this a few times a month.

OMG---Parkside is HARD! Running there is a good workout with lots of uneven footing and hills. Went early to try to get 10 miles in, and fell behind the group within the first .25 mile as I couldn't breathe. It was a hill, and high humidity, and I just couldn't get any air. Stayed back and running slow for the rest of the time. Bill ran with me for about 1/2 of the first hour, then we stayed together for the 2nd hour too. It was nice to run with him as we don't get to run together too often due to our different paces. Since I was running slower and he knows the trails like the back of his hand so we could alter routes as necessary, it was nice to be together. Ended up getting 10.33 miles (ran a little extra to help Bill get his 13 in). The pace stunk and was a 10:22 average. I just kept getting slower and slower each 2-mile section.

Bill comes home tonight and I have to work late. It's another nice day, so I suggested we walk to the Diner for dinner...that's a nice 20 minute walk there, then back again.

Up and running this morning. A little chilly, but overall a nice morning. Met up with Carol and Sara today for a bit of the run so that broke it up nicely. Ran 4.65 with a 8:31 average pace. Wow!

We were going to run this morning, but it was rainy and windy so noone was really interested. It rained on and off all day, so softball was cancelled too. Back to the DVDs, but wanted something different. While looking through them I realized you could do the "Burn" only section of Learn and Burn TJ. It was only about 17:30 minutes, but it was nice to do something different. I did another minute or two of jumping jacks, jump rope, and running in place to get a little more in.

Back to work today and decided to go to the gym. Did 20 minutes on the bike, then did a bunch of different weights--flies, pecs, skull crushers, abs, obliques, back. A good 25 minutes or so of weights.

Happy Memorial Day. A few of us wanted to run so we decided to pick a new route. Bill suggested part of the Oak Leaf Trail in Oak Creek. So we met and there were 6-7 of us. It was a nice 3.1 out and back for a good little 10K. Slightly rolling hills throughout, but a nice treelined route for most of it. It was nice to have new scenery.

While Bill ran to get lunch, I decided to do a quick DVD. Had a long run yesterday, and running again tomorrow, so just wanted to do something that wouldn't strain the legs too much. Did the Ab Jam DVD.

Saturday morning run and doing the Cemetaries. Joined the group at 6:15am to get 4 miles in before the group. Then did another 5 after. Actually stopped at 8.6 miles total (or was going to stop), but Jodie was still trotting and wanted to do another .5 mile, so I did her .5 with her at a nice little 10:30-11 min pace. I didn't turn my watch back on for it so Garmin thinks I only did 8.6, but really it was 9.1 total. The 8.6 was a 9:02 average pace where each 2 mile split was between 8:55-9:06 pace---boy, I was pretty consistent! I ran with Yemi for about 3 of those last miles and it was a good run with her, we didn't talk much but I really just like having someone there with me to keep me on pace.

Planning a longer run tomorrow and Bill's coming home today, so we just did a nice little walk around the neighborhood for about 22 minutes. Nothing to exerting but got the heartrate up a bit.

Up and going for an early run this morning. Kristin was stuggling today, but we ended up doing alot....5.42 miles at a 9:05 pace.

Then Mary Jo asked me to play tennis at night and got a good workout there also as I played singles for part of the night. Not huge cardio workout, just little sprints, but definitely worked out some muscles differently---serving, side-to-side with the legs, torso, etc.

Softball today and there were a few hits that I had to sprint for, plus a few hits so sprinting to first. Came home and still had to work out. Decided to try my newer DVD, the one with 10 minute workouts. Did 2 of those workouts, one active one and a stretching one. Not the hardest workout, but at least it was something on top of the softball.

Early morning run with the girls. It was a windy day from the SW so we decided to run a little longer into the wind to get it out of the way. I was really struggling into the wind, but kept going. Kristin even commented that she didn't think I'd make it. We ended up doing 5 miles total. Turns out that first 2 miles we were running at an 8:28 pace...no wonder why I was struggling---that fast and into the wind, wow! The whole 5 miles turned out to be an average of 8:45 pace--that's a fast one today.

Went to the gym after work and ran for a mile on the treadmill, plus a few minutes of walking. Then did some weights on the slanted bench: pec flies with chest presses; standing backwards with chest on bench--pec flies and tricep extensions. Then did some situps and some reverse situps (legs going up towards ceiling and lifting butt up). That's all for now.

Bill's leaving again today, so I planned to go for a run after he left. It's a fairly nice day, cool, but sunny. After dropping him off, I went over to the Panera 2 loop. We had just eaten so I read a magazine for a bit while sitting in the sun, then headed out to run. My Veronica's song came on and that got me going really good, probably too fast, for the first mile. Fun, though. Then unfortunately I was having digestive issues and really felt the need for a bathroom. Found a spot in the woods and used it...only #1, not #2 that felt like I need to do. Another true sign that I've become a runner---went in the woods!! Finished up the loop to get 2.25 and headed to McD's to use to the bathroom. It's so nice out and I still felt really good so I wanted to do something more. I headed to Lockwood park to try to run the hill, but the grass was really wet and only did a partial hill once and decided to head elsewhere. Thought about the steps behind the YMCA, but really didn't want to do steps. Then thought about the Chicago Street hill. Headed over there with the thought of doing at least 2 hills, up & down. After the first one, which was a little easier than I expected, I decided to try for 3 reps. After the 2nd, I figured I could do 5 reps. They did get harder and harder, but I found really pumping my arms strongly helped alot. I ran up the hill 5 times, and down all 5 times as well....striving to length my strides and just let myself go down the hill with only a little control and letting my legs just take me (as Anna recommended). That was a good little extra workout....need to do that more often, maybe once e/o week or so.

I've really noticed in recent weeks that I'm stronger on the hills and into the wind than I used to be. Although still not happy places to run, I'm getting better at dealing with hills and wind. I AM getting stronger in my running....feels good!!!!

Bill's not training for anything, but I convinced him to go a bit early to Saturday running today just so I could get a few extra miles. We got there and did 3 miles together early before meeting the group. Then I headed out with Melissa for 2.5 when we caught up with Bill & Kristin to turnaround. Ran with all of them back for the 2.5 for a total of 8 miles. Overall, I felt really good today on this run...nice to feel relatively good for such a long run for me. One hour, 14 min, 30 seconds, so a 9:13 average overall. First 2 miles with Bill were 9:03, then other 2-mile splits were 9:15, 9:27, and 9:27. Got slower each time, but not too bad.

Bill's coming home tonight and not sure what are plans are so got up early to exercise. Did the 20 minute Turbo Jam as I hadn't done that in a while.

Up and going to run early with the girls. As I was leaving, I noticed the microwave had reset---hmmmm, the power must have gone out last night during the storm. Good thing my alarm clock has battery backup.

Got to Kristin's and Jodie was already there (amazing), but Kristin's house was completely dark. Uh oh. Jodie called her and she either overslept or her power went out. I texted Melissa who was planning on coming and told her to run our way and we'd meet her. Met Melissa, headed back and Kristin had hurriedly gotten ready and met us. We ran a new route...up to 3 Mile and into Johnson Park then down to Hwy 38. Nice to have new scenery, but that's a surprisingly hilly route. Ran 4.74 miles today at a 9:03 average pace....great run for me!

Didn't get up to workout today....should have....but didn't. Had a late meeting in Milwaukee and got home about 6:45pm or so. After some playing the computer, I finally decided I better work out. Was going to do a DVD, but none really interested me. ExerciseTV. I found a 10 minute standing ab workout that was pretty good. Then I started about 5 other workouts before landing on a step workout to try (w/o the step). I did it for about 5 minutes, then he was doing too many turns that I couldn't watch and keep up with at the same time, so I improvised for about 4 minutes doing jumping jacks, jump rope, skiers, and other aerobic things just to keep moving.

Just the 20 minutes, some cardio, some abs, but its OK. Planning on running early tomorrow.

Got up to run with Kristin this morning. Jodie actually joined us as well. Got running with Kristin and just struggled today. I couldn't really ID the issue, legs were OK, breathing OK---not great on either, but OK. I just couldn't get into it. I'm kind of getting sick of this....too many times recently where I just stuggled to run even the shorter distances. I managed to run 4.55 miles, with a little walking (probably about .25 miles total).

Should have gotten up to exercise, but just couldn't get up. Then should have exercised after work before the GOP meeting, again...didn't do it.

Therefore I was forced to exercise at 9pm at night. Haven't done the 30 day shred in a while, so thought to do that to get strength and cardio....kind of forgetting that I did some abs and arm weights yesterday. A few things were a little overstressed, but at least I got it done.3

Bill's leaving today for another few week trip. He has to meet the group at 4pm, so I figured I'd do errands and then go to the gym after to work out.

I did 12 minutes on teh treadmill...mostly walking, but did do 2 spurts of running in there (one for a commercial length during a show). Then decided to do strength training--reverse crunches, bicep curls, tricep dips, calf raises, and combo shoulder presses and standing pec flies. About 20-25 minutes of strength. Not the longest workout, but a good variety.

We were helping out at the Aid station at the Ice Age 50 today. Bill thought to go out there early and do a 5 mile or so run there first, since we were missing our Saturday group. Unfortunately it was raining and really windy, plus we'd be running on the trails which I'm sure were uneven and muddy. Not my type of fun so I decided to stay in the car. Bill ran and said the wind wasn't bad, but it was muddy and really uneven and slippery. I just decided to exercise later.

I went out to run in the early evening. I decided to go to the cemetaries as those are always a nice run, and then I can say hi to Dad too. I figured I could run one, two, three, or however many rounds in the cemetaries as I felt like. I ended up running two cemetaries for 2.5 miles at a 8:39/pace. Not as far as I should have gone, but it was at least a good 21 minutes of cardio.

It was a nice day today, so I took advantage of it. When Bill came home after work I asked him to go for a walk with me. We ended up doing about 25 minutes around the neighborhood at a brisk, but not too brisk pace.

Another early morning run with Kristin. Jodie and Melissa said they'd join us, but bailed on us again. Ran 4 miles again with a good negative split, ending up averaging 8:34/mile pace.

I should have gotten up to exercise, but I was just sooooo tired. I just couldn't get going. I have softball tonight at 6:50pm so I thought to bring clothes with to go to the All Saints gym. I didn't want to strain myself too much, so I just did 20 minutes on the elliptical with no resistance and 10 minutes on the bike with minimal resistance. Good enough, then off to softball.

We got home after 10pm last night, but the girls were running early this morning. Got up at just after 4pm and met at Kristin's. She was the only one, so she and I took off together, with Bill behind us taking it easy after his marathon from Sunday. We did 4 miles.

We're still in Ft. Collins so I decided to use the hotel gym. Tried to run a bit on the treadmill, but just couldn't get into it. Therefore ran/walked for about 12 minutes, with about 2 of those at a fast run pace. I had noticed they had a Bosu, so I figured I'd used that. I did lunges on there, pushups with it, plank/oblique/leg crunches, situps, side crunches, side leg lifts/contractions, and squats all using the Bosu. A good workout in a really hot workout room.

So I officially decided to do the 10k at Ft. Collins. I felt good in the morning and hoped for a good day. I've decided that I don't like doing races by myself. I feel so alone and all I focus on is the run. I can't seem to focus on the scenery, people, etc.....therefore the run feels really long. Although we were wearing chips, there was no starting mat so I don't know exactly where the starting line was. I started out OK, then had trouble getting my MP3 to turn on. Had to futz with that a bit, but got it going. When I got to about 3 or so, I was bored and struggling. I kept pushing as I was a bit behind my desired time. We turned onto a trail at 3 miles and were heading back. At about 5 miles I really was done, with lead legs and just wanting to slow down. I pushed, but know I lost some steam. As I approached the finish line, I wanted to kick it in to push it. I did a bit, but not as much as I hoped. I ended up finishing according to my watch at 55:21, and according to the clock at 56:25. I was hoping to break 56 minutes, maybe even 55 minutes, so I was disappointed. Oh well. It is basically the same as last year's Turkey Trot...which I ran after being injured for 4 months and only running one 6+ mile run in training. Therefore I didn't improve at all even though I've been running more. The ext 12-15 lbs probably aren't helping, but I'll need to focus on speed or something for the future.

We're in Ft. Collins, Colorado...day before Bill's marathon. We wanted to get out and run 2 miles to see how we felt with the altitude. Our hotel is right near the Colorado State U campus, so we just did a jaunt around campus. It's a little chillier than we planned...40s, and I don't have running pants. Luckily I can survive in shorts in really cold weather as long as my top and hands are warm (and I did have a running jacket and gloves!).

We're leaving for Colorado later, so I knew I had to get up to exercise in the morning. Couldn't really decide on what to do, so opted for the boot camp DVD as I hadn't done that in a while and it's somewhat mindless.