Peace, Love and Running

This week we continued to run 6 days a week with Wednesday being our rest day. The good news about this training schedule is that even though we are running 6 days, only 2 of those days are purposeful, fast running. On Tuesdays we are running a speed workout, so we run fast and hard for a specific pace. On Thursdays, we are required to run our miles at marathon pace. Switching from 5 miles at marathon pace to 8 miles at marathon pace has been a challenge. For myself, I have to continue to tell myself to run hard because these are the only 2 days that we have to really run. The other days are called “running recovery days”. Basically we are taking it easy as far as effort, but still running miles on our legs. This week’s runs were nice in the mornings with low 60s as the temperature. That makes waking up at 4 am much more enjoyable. JB is working her way back from an injury. It’s amazing that this is her first real injury since we began running 4 years ago!! We keep telling her to take it easy, but like you all know, she is not one to take days off. We keep telling her to take the days off now because we need her for that big race!

I have to say I’m so impressed by three people that have begun running with us this go round. Tracy and Jodie Heath have embarked on this journey with us without hesitation. Of course, there have been some injuries, but for the most part as much as they can, they have been there with us nearly all of the runs. It is not easy to do the schedule we are following and neither one of them have ever run a full or even a half marathon, so for them to put in the work that we are, is beyond amazing. They are going to kick that Prairie Fire race’s butt! J  And of course I have to give a shout out to my dad, Bill Day. Many of you know him and you can attest to his inspirational story. My dad has come such a long way in just one year. When he started running and becoming active, he started by training for the 2012 Fall Fest 5K. He could barely run from one light pole to the next out at Worden Park. But he has been dedicated and determined. He was a smoker for 20+ years and has diabetes and he’s overcome so much! Now he’s running 4 to 7 miles at a time… If that isn’t inspirational, I don’t know what is! I love him very much and get so excited when I know he’s going to join us on a run. I’m very proud of him. And especially proud I get to call him my dad J

Last but not least, I’m including a picture that I took last weekend on our Saturday morning run. This picture is absolutely my favorite running photo. Mostly because it’s our Wellington runners J but also because it’s a moment in time. A snapshot into our world. The sun is rising over the trees and all you see is a line of runners working the street to get to the end. There is no rush, there is no chaos in this photo and it is very peaceful. I feel as if I speak for the rest of the group when I say that for the most part, running is our inner peace. Running is one of those things anyone can do and still enjoy that same feeling. Whether you run a 6 minute mile or a 12 minute mile, at some point you come across that peacefulness. Is running peaceful all the time? Absolutely not! As we say running is comparable to life. Life isn't peaceful or wonderful all the time, however it takes those crazy, hard, chaotic times for us to appreciate the peace. So, we run when we don’t want to and we go faster when our legs are tired, but yet in some odd way, there is that peace there that we sometimes forget about until it hits us again. I enjoy that feeling very much and I hope you have found it too.

Stormie

Quote for the Day:  “Running is about finding your inner peace, and so is a life well lived.”

-         -  Dean Karnazes

Here Comes the Rain (du dn du du) and C-R-A-N-K it Up!!

Week nine started with a very humid five mile run, but no rain.  Yay!!  We actually had stars out, which we haven’t seen much of lately.  We can sure tell when we’re on our 5^th straight day of running. 

Due to schedules, we had to do our speed work at 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday.  Between running faster than we like to, the heat and humidity, and being attacked by mosquitoes, there’s only one good thing that comes to mind about this run and that’s the high fives afterwards for Team Higgie.  After that speed workout, we all look forward to Wednesday’s “Rest Day”.

On Thursday, we were scheduled for a 4:30 a.m. run before everyone went to work and guess what…Here Comes the Rain (du nd du du), wind, and lightning.  We've gotten used to running in the rain, but we do draw the line when it’s lightning.  With rain in the forecast for early evening, we decided to go at 4:15 p.m.  It was horribly hot and humid.  We hope we don’t have this type of weather on marathon day, as we would struggle to keep our goal tempo rate.

On Friday it was up early again for a 4:30 a.m. run so we could get it in before Alison left for a weekend trip, but once again it decides to storm.  Some did their treadmills while the rest of us waited for it to clear off and wow…what a difference a day makes!  Our six mile run was almost enjoyable comparing to yesterdays.  We finally had a nice, almost cool breeze.

Only five miles on Saturday, Yay!, an easy day…NOT!!!   Five miles, 10 hills, and one mountain!  Scratch that route!!  Stormie rolled her ankle and we hope she’ll be up to the 15 mile run tomorrow.

Last Sunday was a 10 mile run.  Well, C-R-A-N-K it up five more for a big 15 this Sunday!  Once again, with our busy schedules we had a 4:30 a.m. start.  Everyone did a great job!  For some this was the furthest they had ever run.  I was glad we started so early and I was thrilled when we were done!

 

As we completed week nine with 43.50 miles, we are halfway through our training schedule.  We've held true to our schedule, running six days a week even with all the rain storms we've had.  I must say “Great job!” to everyone for not using the rain as an excuse not to run.

We’d like to thank everyone who leaves drinks out for our water stops.  We GREATLY appreciate it!

Go Team Higgie!!  Running for Those Who Can’t

Mitzi

Quote for the day: "The thirst you feel in your throat and lungs will be gone minutes after the race is over. The pain in your legs within days, but the glory of your finish will last forever." 

- Unknown 

Love Hate Relationship

I Love Running!

I Hate Running! 

I Love Running! 

I Hate Running!

I am so thankful for all the rain we have had lately, I know all of the farmers are doing the happy dance for sure! But... this past week I think out of the 6 days that we ran, all but 2 were done in the rain! My toes are like prunes, I can't see out of my glasses and my clothes just stick to me like glue. But the rain did keep us somewhat cool. Here is a tip for you new to running, stuff your running shoes with newspaper. It helps dry them out faster. 

Week #8 went as follows: Monday 6 miles, Tuesday speed training at the track at 8:00 pm. This is where I Hate Running! Not my idea of a good time. I ate a PB&J too close to the time to run and it talked to me the whole time. YUCK! I think a few of us girls can tell you how worked up we get before these speed workouts. They are hard and hot and let me tell you the mosquitoes were out in full force. But, per Coach Stormie, very important in our training! (Editors Note: Yes, she is correct and Lisa hates every second.)

Wednesday was our rest day, but I didn't rest well. I worried all day about the tempo run we had to do on Thursday. Silly I know. But you have to remember...I Hate Running! The tempo run was, I think, the most humid day we have had thus far. The air was thick, thick, thick! Your body is working extra hard to keep itself cool, so staying hydrated is very important. We all survived that 5 miler. Whew! Friday was a 5 mile easy run, Saturday was 6 miles and Sunday was a good long 10 mile run. It was rained delayed 3 times. We finally got started at 2:30 in the afternoon with just a few sprinkles. 

Here is where I Love Running! Sometimes we have bad running days and self doubt creeps in, but when you have the best friends a girl could ever ask for there to keep your spirits up and your head in the game, it is so worth it! I think I can speak for all of us Marathon Mamas, none of us could go through this journey alone. We need each other to keep going on tough runs, speed runs and those dreaded tempo runs. We are cheerleaders, therapists and sometimes the "mean" coach (JB, LOL) All this is done with love! Couldn't ask for a better group of people to train with. Love you girls and please don't tell anyone, I Love Running too! 

- Lisa 

Quote for the day: "There is nothing on this earth more to be prized than true friendship"

- St. Thomas Aquinas