Week 10 Half Training MRW

September 4, 2017 / Anna @ Piper's Run / 27 Comments

And just like that we’re done week 10 of half marathon training! Despite being on vacation, my motivation to run was extremely low. In fact, I don’t remember the last time I’ve felt this way about running. I just didn’t want to run. The weather has been cooler and very little sun which makes for a kinda crappy week/vacation.

Also, if you missed my August Mileage and September Goals I posted on Sunday, you can check it out here. I’ve finally started bullet journaling my runs. Check it out!

What was Planned vs What Really Happened:

Monday: Stretch & Strengthen | 5k + Osteopath appointment. I wanted to get in a run before my day started so I got in 3k on my own and came back to our house and ran 2k with Carmacks.

I’ve been dealing with back, SI joint and hip flexor issues for a month now so a trip to the Osteopath was in order. That also means, two days of rest/no activity….and I listened which may have had an affect on my motivation for the rest of the week.

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Tuesday: 8k | Rest Day.

Wednesday: 45 minute tempo run| Rest Day + Massage.

Thursday: 5k + Strengthening |3k + Soccer Game. We got nailed 8-0…seriously! I’m taking soccer as my speed work for the week. I ran 3k in the morning with Carmacks.

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Friday: Rest Day | 16.53 km of cycling. Wasn’t having the best day and wasn’t feeling like running so I went for an hour (1:05) bike ride. My bike chain fell off at 16.53 km, so I walked the half kilometre home with my bike.

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Saturday: 8 km | Hiking with the family. I wasn’t really feeling like running or doing much of any activity so we took the girls for a walk on a trail near our house. Carmacks was loving but went into “sled dog” working mode and just wanted to pull. You can’t take the sled dog out of a sled dog!

Sunday: 18 km| Berwick 5 Miler Road Race. I signed up last minute for this race (literally decided the night before to run it). This was the 66th year of this race and it’s only about 10-12 minutes from my house.

My plan was to just run and enjoy since it was last minute but I found myself running faster during my first kilometre (6:12/km). Lately, I’m around 6:40-7:00/km starting off my runs. Yes, it was a 5 mile race or but since I run in kilometres, I had it in my head 8k. I figured I’d later regret my first kilometre as I didn’t think I’d keep that pace for the whole time.

Honestly, I don’t know where it came from but I averaged 5:56/km! My legs were pumping, my lungs felt great and the course was great. It was mainly flat with a few inclines but I pulled off 47:45 (5:56/km) – a pace and finish I haven’t seen in over a year! My last 8k training run was 53 minutes – now that was a training run and a completely different route but taking roughly 6 minutes off your 8k is pretty sweet. With it being my first 5 miler race, it was an automatic PB for me!!! I’d totally do this race again.

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Weekly mileage: 16 km runnning, 16 km cycling, 1 soccer game.

Yup, so that wasn’t the best week of training but in reality, I got some running in and some other activities so I’ll take it. Now to get a little more serious this week with training, back to work and BACK TO SCHOOL for BOTH girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anyone else’s children going back to school this week? (or just recently)?

Ever register last minute for a race?

Loving or struggling your weather right now?

I’m linking up today with Pretty Lil Mudder, HoHo Runs, MissSippiPiddlin.

Half Marathon Training Week #8 ALL DONE!

September 16, 2014 / Anna @ Piper's Run / 20 Comments

Ummmm, so I finished week #8 of my half Marathon training on the weekend and now only have four more weeks to go! I had such a ride this past weekend at Maritime Race Weekend, I think I’m still high from it all. Last week’s training went a little like this:

What was planned VS What happened

Monday: Stretch & Strengthen – 20 Squats. I was completely unmotivated to do anything, so I did 10 really good squats. And then after 5 minutes of nothing, did another 10 really good squats and called it a day! #trainingfail

Tuesday: 7k run – 7k outside with a 5k PB of 27:30 Had an amazing 7k run and the first 5k managed a new PB. I felt great.

Wednesday:40 minute tempo run – 7k outside. A little slower than Tuesday’s run but I ran the same route and loved it. I’m really not good at tempo runs but Tuesday nights run could have been considered a tempo run.

Thursday: 5k + strength – Rest Day. Packed our bags for the weekend, cleaned the house and hung out with my husband.

Friday: Rest Day – 5k Tartan Twosome 5k NEW PB 27:05 <–Read about it here.

Saturday: 8k – 10k Tartan Twosome, PB 55:58 plus 6k (36:22) for a total of 1 hour 32 minutes (16k). <–Read about it here.

Sunday: 16k long run – Rest Day (moved 15 wheelbarrows full of mulch from my neighbour’s house on a hill to our backyard).

Total mileage this week: 35 km

Total mileage training: 273 km (Since July 21st)

I feel like a BADASS MOTHER RUNNER NOW 🙂

Week #8 was 100% different and better than week #7…it’s amazing how your training can change from week to week! I felt comfortable and confident with my running.

Four more weeks to go of training and then my half marathon. I also signed up for another race…HA! The 5k BLT run in Timberlea with the Timberlea Tundra Pounders Running Group (October 25th).

Anyone training? How’s it going?

Tell me something that has nothing to do with running?

Are you loving the Fall weather where you live?

Check back tomorrow for 1 of 2 Giveaways open to US & Canadians 🙂

A Sub 60 – 10K Run

May 4, 2014May 4, 2014 / Anna @ Piper's Run / 37 Comments

I finally did it. I ran a sub 60 – 10k!!!!

Saturday I was scheduled to run 11k for my 10k training program for the Bluenose Marathon (10k) I’m running on May 18th in Halifax, Nova Scotia. My husband was home but on a course so I couldn’t run it during the day.

The girls and I had an awesome play date in the morning with friends: picnic lunch, played at a playground – just a great morning all around. We got home, Hilary went down for a nap, Lilly went in her room for “quiet time” and I laid down on my bed. My body was completely exhausted and at this point I didn’t think my long run was even going to happen. Zzzzzz……….

17 months old!!!!

My husband got home, we had dinner, played with the girls and got them to bed. Then I got my running gear on (no pictures, sorry). I wore my new purple PRO Compression socks, new Asics, Capri running pants….I know, I looked hot, a purple short-sleeved running shirt {“I Run This Town” – Bluenose shirt from 2011} and a long-sleeved running shirt. ALL purple…my new favourite colour besides these:

And, in with the NEW!

I was a little worried I’d be too warm but it was perfect. Perfect temperatures outside, the sun was setting and I was running on a busy road against traffic. I got to see a stream I didn’t know existed, it wasn’t that bad running on the main road, the moon was stunning, had numerous cars honk at me {hello back}. I ran at a constant steady pace with my breathing under control and my legs feeling great the whole time. Well, 99% of the time.

Around 8k, I increase my speed a little and at 9k I saw I was at 53 minutes and some odd seconds so I pushed it knowing I would finish the last km on this dang hill that gets me at the end of every run. I thought about changing my route so I could avoid the hill but then thought, “no, do the hill – you will thank yourself after the Bluenose”.

So, I did the hill as best I could and died just short of the top but kept walking – this was not graceful. Once at the top I pushed the last .30/km as I knew I was going to get a 10k PB. In 2002, I ran a 10k in 1:02:07 on Canada Day. It’s been my goal for 2 years (pregnancy/postpartum included) to get a sub 60 – 10k.

I finally did it!

My sub 60 – 10k !

{5:49, 5:52, 6:06, 6:03, 5:46, 6:06, 6:04, 6:02, 5:39, 5:56, 6:30 = 1:05:58 in 11k}

Needless to say, I was happy and as soon as it read 10k, I stopped and took a few deep breaths and then continued to run my last km of the 11k training run.

I finished last week with 31km and had a total of 101km for the month of April! The Around The World Running Blog Relay 2014 has finished and we’re just waiting to hear how far we have collectively run around the world!

PS – my finger is JUST starting to heal from last week’s injury and “The Beast” (treadmill) is still waiting for it’s lube.

How long did it take you to reach a running goal?

When was your last *awesome* run?

Ever feel like you are over-dressed for a run but then realize your not?

Please note:

Apple Tree Foundation 5k Recap

April 28, 2014April 27, 2014 / Anna @ Piper's Run / 25 Comments

I’ve been working hard at my running goals the last few months and have signed up for a few races. I also have a few on “The List” waiting for when I can afford to pay their registration fees. Some of my goals this year are to:

1. Run 5k under 30 minutes. More specifically, under 29:16 minutes – April 10th 2014

2. Run 10k under 60 minutes.

3. And run my second 1/2 Marathon. Preferably under 2:33:56

The last few months I’ve been “working” at running 5k under 30 minutes and trying to get a PB/PR and have been successful over the last month. {29: 39, then 29:34, more recently 28:54 –> goal accomplished}

I signed up for the ATF 5k a few weeks ago knowing very little about the event. I didn’t sleep well Saturday night, not sure why but just couldn’t relax and fall asleep. I was up once with Hilary at 1:25 AM and then woke up just after 7am with Lilly snoozing beside me. I have no idea what time she crawled in bed with me so I guess I slept hard 🙂

We got up, had breakfast: bagels with peanut butter, banana’s, a little OJ for me and milk for the girls. Since my husband is away working, my Dad came down to hang out with the girls while I ran. They were all going to come to the run but it was supposed to be rather cold and raining buckets so we decided they would stay home. They ended up playing outside with Grandad for an hour {thank you}.

Flat Piper was ready the night before:

Flat Piper

But was real Piper ready?

I got dressed and put everything I wanted to bring in a plastic bag. Plastic bag? I know…I just couldn’t find the right bag to put my “stuff” in. I left the girls and went down to run 1-2k on the treadmill to warm up my legs and then realised I left my key’s upstairs. So much for trying to make a clean get-a-way. Poor Hilary struggles sometimes when I leave her, but apparently that didn’t last long.

As I got to the event, I saw a few youth “warming up”. Oh dear lord I thought…what have I got myself into. I heard music pumping at the start area and I decided to go register/get my bib. I mentioned in yesterday’s post that I really knew nothing about the event. It was a fundraiser for the Rehabilitation Centre and they were raising money for a new Wheel-chair accessible van.

Wasn't sure which shoe to wear - oldie or newbie. Newbie one in the last few minutes.

Wasn’t sure which shoe to wear – oldie or newbie. Newbie won in the last few minutes.

I got my bib and went back to my car to stay warm. A few other runners trickled in and then it was time to head to the start. There were about 15-20 of us running! This is by far the smallest run I have ever participated in…my nerves went through the roof. Young kids, middle-aged adults and 1 senior plus two-wheel chair athletes. Oh My!

The 5k run/walk was open to all abilities. It was great to see Ben at the beginning, he worked in our office a few years ago as an Rec. Intern. We chatted and I took his photo to send to him later. It was time to line up so the group of us gathered at the start behind the youth…off went the horn. My Green Garmin just caught the signal as the horn went off.

I started running with a lady named Mardi – we were behind the youth and then I moved forward a little with a guy named Wes or Wesley (60+ winner), we chatted a bit and then I decided I was ready to move my legs a little faster on the incline/hill.

I was running fast. My Garmin kept beeping at me “ahead of pace”, then “on pace” and back to “ahead of pace”. It was flat and fast. I didn’t want to stop at the water station or drink any water but the volunteer made great efforts to have the water ready for me, so I took it.

At the 1/2 way mark, my Garmin was reading a little ahead of 2.5k but I just kept running anyway. I turned around and started making my way back. Between the 3.5 and 4k mark I slowed down a bit and then pushed it during the last km.

I was breathing hard at this point but the end was in sight……FOREVER! I could see the RED “Running Room” arch and it looked so far away. Just a little before the finish line my watch beeped 5k and read 28:00. I kept running strong through to the actual finish line. It read 28:24….I’ll take both, thank you. I forgot to actually stop my Garmin until a few minutes had passed so I don’t have my Garmin finish time but it said I ran my fastest 5k to date!

{5:33; 5:31; 5:39; 5:45; 5:36}

It was a fun little event, too bad that more people didn’t show up but I am hoping that if they do it again, the word will get out. Great little course, fun volunteers, nice little running community – what more could you want in a running event.

When I got home and started stretching, both of my girls where “stretching” too …it was awesome!

Anyone race this weekend?

Does your Garmin/tracking device ever give you a different distance then what you are racing?

Ever been in a race with a wheel chair athlete?