Getting it done

It’s already been a couple weeks already since my last post? I guess I’ve been busy! I am ramping up my training and it’s going great. We’ve spent a lot of time outside running and trying to take advantage anytime it’s not raining (rare). I have tons of great pictures! But first let me recap my training. Good stuff!

Last week I ran about 37 miles total in 4 runs.

* Tues: easy 6 miler
* Thurs: speedy 8 miler with Zach on Leif Erickson trail in FP (8:17 pace)
* Sat: 8 miles with my dad – he rode Zach’s mountain bike. Fun!! The sun was out and he took some great pics. My parents were in town for the weekend and we had a really nice visit.
* Sun: 15.25 mile long run on the Wildwood trail in Forest Park. Muddy, hilly, and I felt great. Ran a 10:20 pace which is a great trail pace for me (neg split too- last few miles were sub 10!)

This week I got in 41 miles in 5 days! A big step up and I can feel it.

*Tues: 4.5 miles
*Weds: 6.5 easy miles with Zach
*Thurs: 6 miles in FP with Zach 
*Sat: 6 hilly miles on Wildwood
*Sun: 18 miles long run on the road with a terrible hangover

Ya… today’s run was rough. We had way too much fun (wine) with our friends last night and stayed up really late. There was karaoke and french toast at midnight, that kind of thing. I don’t do it often and I paid for it today. It was worth it though, we had a blast! We slept in late and took our time recovering for a few hours. Finally, after convincing each other we HAD to get the run in, we started the long run after 1:00 pm. It was weird to finish at like 4:00 pm and then have brunch at 5:00. Ha! It actually wasn’t all that  bad, I’ve had worse runs. Ended up with a 8:53 pace but I slowed down a lot in the last few miles. Whatever, I’ll take it!

I’ve also been having some great climbing sessions lately. I feel like I’m back to where I was pre- rib injury. Zach is getting really good too, it’s fun to watch. We took some friends to the gym lately- Alisa, and then Deana and Dana yesterday. It’s fun to watch new people try it! I was proud of them all. The consensus was “it’s a lot harder than it looks.”

The climbing is taking up some time and energy away from yoga, but I have still been going to the meditative/restorative class twice a week. So I’ve just not been going to the active classes, but that’s fine. It’s more of a mental thing for me anyway. Emily says Yin yoga is not a “workout” but a “work IN” .. I like that. :) She’s great.

One last update- we are still supposedly closing on our house at the end of next week! We’ve had a rocky week with the final details which lead to a few angry emails sent to our idiot mortgage broker (by me) and a lot of tears (again, all me), but I think it’s all going to work out. I’ll believe it when I have the keys in my hand! It’s been a real headache but I can’t complain too much. I feel very lucky and blessed to be able to buy a beautiful home with my wonderful husband… I don’t have much to complain about.

Expect some house pics in the next post!

Here are a bunch of pictures from the last two weeks. Enjoy! Thanks so much for reading. Have a great week!

 

Run with Dad last weekend:

Spending tons of time on muddy trails in Forest Park:

   

More signs of spring around Portland…

Some red buds on these trees:

 

A little green on these trees:

 
White blossoms:

Sunbreaks at the Farmer’s Market downtown!

Climbing with Deana and Dana yesterday:

Bouldering:

Self-portrait after today’s 18 miler:

Spring Training

I’m a couple of weeks into my spring training plan, and so far so good! My first race is the 20 mile Peterson Ridge Rumble on April 10 (4 weeks away), and then the Newport Marathon is June 4 (8 weeks later). Zach made a training plan that covers both races, and I’m just copying him because I’m too lazy to make my own! Also, he did a pretty great job setting it up. We’re alternating our Sunday long runs between trails and road, but also doing trail runs on Saturdays.

We’re getting a lot of rain here in Oregon these days (really!) and so many of our runs have been pretty wet. The trail runs have been very, very muddy. It’s pretty great. It definitely makes it a little more challenging but it’s fun.

I’ve done 14 mile long runs two weeks in a row- last Sunday on the Wildwood and today out at Banks Vernonia.  Yesterday I did a very hilly and muddy 7.5 miles and I felt it on today’s long run. Along with a couple mid-week runs I ended up with 34 miles total this week which I’m very happy with. I don’t want to peak too soon- being ready for this 20 mile trail race without over-training way before Newport is going to be a delicate balance. I’m really enjoying the variety though!

I am definitely getting sick of the rain, but what can you do. Hopefully we’ll get a break eventually and the sun will come out. The trees are starting to bloom and the sun is setting later so we’re all set up for spring… just need that sun!

Before I get to pictures, a quick house update! We’re pretty much done with all the negotiating and other BS, and we’re set to close the first week of April. We’re going to do a few renovations right away(refinish floors, paint, etc) so we’ll probably be moving in early May or so. I’ll definitely have plenty of pictures then. This whole process has been SO nerve-wracking and just exhausting, but it’ll be worth it.

Thanks for reading. I decided I’m going to start commenting on your blogs soon (I never stopped reading, just commenting!), because I am starting to miss the friendships I have with my blogger friends. ♥ 

Pictures! The theme is MUD and RAIN. Enjoy!

 

14 mi. Trail Run Sunday March 6

14 mi. Long Run on Banks-Vernonia Trail Sunday March 13