5 to go...until #5 and other random thoughts

5 workouts until.... Half Marathon #5! Runaway Pumpkin here I come.. I did a test run in my orange Team Sparkle skirt this morning.

Here are my last 2 weeks speed workouts courtesy of Coach J.... I do them on Tuesday and Wednesday.. Monday and Friday are easy 3m, and Saturday is supposed to be 3-5, but last week I ran 6... There has been some walking since I was starting to have some hamstring pain last week - but it is feeling better now.  Just needed to back off a little.

Track: walk 1 mile, jog 2 miles very easy 4 x 100m working on form at 5k pace 1 mile jog walk. (Wear long pants / spandex so legs stay warm)

Track:1 mile walk, 1 mile easy 4 x 800 @ 1/2 marathon pace 1 mile easy 1 mile walk 

Track: walk 1 mile, jog 2 miles very easy 4 x 100m working on form at 5k pace 1 mile jog walk. (Wear long pants / spandex so legs stay warm)

Track: 1 mile walk, 1 mile easy 2 x 800 @ 1/2 marathon pace 1 mile easy 1 mile walk 

I usually go to the track when I have childcare (during my workday) but that didn't work out today since the nanny has the day off.. so Finley got to spend an hour at the track with me today...

As you can see she was very excited about it. I was not even halfway in when she started to scream - "I walk, I walk!!" and I was getting a little worried that I was going to be able to finish my 800s - but then I remembered an amazing invention. Netflix on my phone. Best. thing. ever. Finley, now happily watching Bo, on the go (if you have ever watched this show with your kids, I hope the theme song is stuck in your head like it is mine.) was now quiet while I commenced my speed work pushing my stroller. Does that make it count as a strength work out too? I had a hard time hitting my half marathon pace (9:44) I kept running too fast (9:08-9:15). Is that a problem to be running faster? Raina, I know you will know...

It is strange that now tapering back down to 22 miles per week seems like such a light week, when 15-22 miles per week was a high back in June. It feels good. I've got some aches and pains, but more so probably because I have been slacking about my foam rolling.

You would think this is the 'please be done' look. but this is actually, her 'hurray! I'm free!' look and she walked the final lap around the track with me.

Meet my current arch nemesis. Why are these holiday Reese's so much better than the other ones? I have NO self control. Amanda @ Runninghood wrote about eating all her cookies this week and I can so relate! I cannot have things like this in the house because of it's siren's call. This is why I run.

This is one of my favorite running paths (partly because it is close to home. I run the Fanno Creek trail at least once a week usually. It just makes my heart sing to be on this trail. No matter the pace. I took this photo last week, intending to do some sort of blog post that I felt inspired to write that day, and of course,  never did get to it and lost whatever the thought was. Ah, mommy brain.

So I got written up today as the Run Oregon featured runner: http://networkedblogs.com/DAsSN?a=share. Pretty exciting!! A good motivator to get me to update the blog as well...

Warning: About to get spiritual here, so if that isn't your cup of tea - you may want to close the window.....

Final thought - was listening to our church's podcasts while I ran this week (by the way, how is it that I JUST discovered the awesomeness that is listening to podcasts while running?) and one of the messages was on worry and anxiety.. One of the best thoughts that I got from it was how too often we don't come to God with the really big things AND the really little things. How we underestimate God and what he is capable of. I love the thought that God wants me to bring it all to him. I did that when I was pregnant with Finley and after she was born and in the hospital, but then I don't do that every day now. It is great to be reminded that I don't need to worry about ANYTHING - just give it all to him.

Phil 4:6-7 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."