RunCLE- Training update- getting real

So a mere 7 weeks is standing in between us and the marathon, 7 weeks!  For some, that may seem long, but for me its crazy fast! My list of things to do in 7 weeks is pretty intense on top of running. So, needless to say sometimes life just gets in the way of training. I feel like the last few weeks I have been making excuses as to why I didn't get to my TBT class, or why I took an extra rest day, but to be honest, its just life!

Today is a perfect example. My son was sick and I wasn't at work, so I didn't get a chance to go run. It sucked, but it would have sucked more to leave him for an hour this evening when he really needed a snuggle to fill in the training box as complete for the day. Yes, its an excuse, but my point is that LIFE HAPPENS! And this race is so important to me, but it's also not the only thing that I am doing. And it's not the only thing that you are doing!

I am a mom, a full time worker, a sister, a daughter, a friend, and the list goes on and on. And your lists go on and on! In a perfect world, we would all follow the training schedule to the button every day, no excuses. I know in my perfect world that I sure would. Kudos to the people who can do it!! I want to shake your hand because IT IS TOUGH! I also know that I am not in this to break any record, I am in it to prove it to myself that I can do it and finish in a respectable time. It's the best therapy that I can think of and when players talk about leaving it all on the field, I get it.

So, be kind to yourself!  If we are doing the very best that we can, that is all that matters!

photo credit

Here is what last week looked like for me.
Last week:

Mon	Tues	Wed	Thurs	Fri	Sat	Sun
3.54mi	Jack's birthday	59 min- 6 mi!!	work conflict	28.45 5k!	8.34mi	rest

Monday, was a normal run day for me. I had less time then was ideal , but I still got in some miles!

Tuesday my baby turned 2! SOB! It's cliche, but the time just goes too fast with these boys!  I swear that we just brought him home. I spent the day with my family and it was wonderful and so fun!

Because St Patty's day birthdays rock!!!

Wednesday is my long run day at lunch and I was able to squeak in my usual 6 miles, non stop with a minute to spare!

Thursday I was working on something at work, OK it was the sample sale, but it was still work related and i missed class and it felt nice to just sit for a minute!

Friday was a shorter time running than planned as well, but once I got going, i decided to try for my fastest 5K time and that was successful :) Yeah!  I love nothing more than crushing a PR.

Saturday Lynanne and I squeezed in a little over 8 miles before the boys had soccer and Sunday I rested and by that I mean running errands and working on house projects all day.

Hope you guys are all getting geared up for this race that is happening sooner than we all expect!
I wanted to say thanks again to the Cleveland Marathon Ambassador program for giving me a chance to get out there like this. It's so exciting to be a part of this race that I truely love!

And if you like what you see here there is more Bix Blog on facebook, instagram, and twitter!
I just made your day right? 

RunCLE... and the winner is

This was the most fun week!!!
I felt a little like a celeb with the @clevemarathon tweeting about me and all, I mean come ON! way cool

But even more cool is that I was able to help someone else get excited about this race that I love so much!
I actually got a few people excited about the race, so thanks for everyone who read my post and my blog and took the time to enter the contest!

So, drumroll please.............

Amy B! 

She's even tweeted me a few times about it this week: shes a recent birthday girl and is going to be doing the half marathon!

Yay Amy!!!! Good luck girl, i know you are gonna kill it!!!

Ill post a training update later, but i was too excited not to share the winner  :)
Don't forget to check out the other Cleveland Marathon Ambassadors! We are all getting pretty excited!

Click these links to find me: facebook, instagram, and twitter!

RunCLE- Training update- Most Magnificent Training week and a Giveaway!!!

This week was pretty awesome!

But, its even better for you because, I get the channel my inner Oprah and let one of you guys win a free entry to the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon! Yep! You get a car, you get a car!! One of you gets a free race entry!!!!  Its your lucky day!

But first, you get to check out my awesome training week in recap form :)

Last week was FINALLY nice out and, I actually got back to running outside again and it was kind of the best! Now my Mondays are up to 50 minutes and I cant get that in on my lunch breaks, so two runs are kind of a must. I was able to do a quick 2 miles outside after work and it was so nice. I'd rather do that than miss out on 50 minutes with the boys after school when time is so limited with them anyhow.

Tuesday was my usual Total Body Toning class at the gym. I love this class, for realz, its the best!

Wednesday is my long day running at lunch and I have adjusted my work schedule to let me be there over my usual hour. It was an awesome run!  I run on the treadmill and sometimes the treadmill in small doses is kind of amazing! It lets me push my pace faster and I cant help but the keep better track of it when its right in my face. I was a great run and I kept up with the 10 minute/ mile pace the whole time. I know to some that isn't anything to write home about, but to me, its pretty awesome :)

killed it!

Thursday and Friday I had lunch plans and wasn't able to get anything in after work besides keeping the kids alive and fed (joking... kind of).

But, Saturday was uber awesome! The morning was rainy so my running bestie (hi Lynanne!) and me decided to wait until after lunch to get out there. We had 14 miles on the plan. We started about 2:45 and just kept going!  We kept weaving in and out of streets near her neighborhood and I kept hearing the miles tick by one after the other and I was just so amazed that we did it. I knew we could, but that is the farthest that either one of us had gone in our lives! We did take a mid run potty break at the Most Magnificent McDonalds. (Any Warren people out there? You know what I'm talking about!) It was great, after we high fived and did a little jig I took screen shots of everything about the run, because I just don't want to forget it! I was kind of a blob the rest of the night and my knees were a little achy. I was happily surprised on Sunday that I wasn't sore.

I know that from here on out, the long weekend runs will get more intense and we will have to pick up the pace a little bit. I'm actually looking forward to hitting more milestones with these long runs! Its crazy to me still that I am actually doing this!

Last week:

Mon	Tues	Wed	Thurs	Fri	Sat	Sun
50 min- 5 mi	TBT class	60 min- 6 mi	rest	rest	14.1 mi JAZZHANDS	rest

So, if you are actually still awake after all of that fluff and recapping, congratulations!  Thanks for reading, special shout out to those who aren't related to me!

Follow the super easy little giveaway below! This is good for one race entry distance of your choice.
If you are already registered, I can't give you money back, but I can meet you at the start line for a high five :)  Feel free to share with friends that you want to peer pressure to race with you too!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Don't forget to check out the other Cleveland Marathon Ambassadors! Every one of  them is in the training mode with race day a mere 60 days away!

As always, find me here: facebook, instagram, and twitter!
You know you want to ;)

RunCLE- Training update- Here comes the sun!

YAY! Its finally March! And today, I finally got to run outside! I have missed it so much that it made the run kind of breeze by! I know lots of hard core runners were out in the cold and snow, but I played it safe on the treadmill and the track for most of February and my gosh, it was beautiful to run outside again! Last Sunday was so snowy and I never made it out for the Half Marathon. There were a lot of hills and I was kind of worried about slipping on the ice and getting hurt.

Other than the snow and cold, the last two weeks have been good! I have had to deviate from the schedule a little bit and I always feel guilty because I'm not doing exactly what is on the training plan. But, that needs to stop. It seems like many people (myself included) get so caught up in following a training plan to the dot, that they loose the experience. I do the best that I can to get in the right amount of miles and cross training but I also know that I'm not training to win this marathon, I'm doing this for me. And I'm ok with that. I'm good if it takes me up to 5 hours to complete, I will just be damn proud to finish this! I also train because it keeps my mind busy from life. It's the best escape and way to stay in shape for me and I love it! So, give yourself some credit, and don't feel guilty of you need a break or have to change up the plan mid-way. There is something to be said for following the plan perfectly, but be kind to yourself and do what works for you!

Last Monday, I skipped my run and sat in the whirlpool and the eucalyptus room at the gym and it was just what the dr ordered. It was a nice rest and made my legs feel so nice and rested. I skipped the weights last week, but this week, ill get back at it.

photo credit

Here is what the last two weeks of training looked like

Mon	Tues	Wed	Thurs	Fri	Sat	Sun
4 mi	TBT	5.3 mi	TBT	Rest	Rest	8 mi
Rest	Rest	6 mi	3 mi	3.5 mi	Rest	11 mi

I'm still focused on the time and keeping it interesting during the weekly runs. I change up the pace when I'm on the treadmill to push myself during the week. I have also run the track at the gym for a little different focus during the week. It feels good for me to change the routine and not always rely in the treadmill to propel me.  I'm still using the run 3 minutes/ walk 1 minute plan for my long runs. It keeps me on pace and its a good built in break.

Have you signed up yet for the race yet?

Don't forget to check out the other Cleveland Marathon Ambassadors! We all get a chance to giveaway a free race entry!  If you haven't registered yet, this is a great chance to win a registration to the race distance of your choice. It will be my week soon to post a giveaway!

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