The Road to Dopey: Week 31 - Still Searching for the Run

August Miles to Date: 3.8
August Average Pace: 14:30
2016 Miles to Date: 193.2
Yoga Sessions this week: 4
Streak Day: 106 (Maximum: 106)
The American 200 - COMPLETE

Transition has proven challenging for my running. When I get up in the morning at my parent's place, I don't feel like running. I'm not familiar with the neighborhood, the streets, it's hilly, I'm tired. I just don't want to. It's weird how the motivation ebbs and flows. It did this in Texas too and I'm not sure if it's because my next goal is so far off, or because I'm not on a real training program yet (I'm waiting to complete my move since I'll be at a new altitude). That will all change in the next two weeks, and I've been keeping up with my yoga in exchange, but still...I miss running but have no motivation. Which is just a weird place to be.

I did a lot of N&N this week (needlepoint and Netflix), which was wonderful. It's been such a long time since I truly haven't had anything to do. And even though I have class prep to be doing (and have been doing), it's not exactly the same (yet) as the workload I felt as a graduate student. It's been so nice to just relax, recharge, and get ready for this next phase of my life.

I also got to ride roller coasters this week, which was so much fun. And I got to meet Snoopy. And I also got to go to the Dressing Downton exhibit, which was an exhibit of various costumes from Downton Abbey. As a long time fan of this show, this was especially exciting. The costumes looked gorgeous on TV, but it paled in comparison to in person. Plus all the details you can't exactly notice on TV were amazing.

The only other really exciting thing that happened this week was my runDisney Virtual Running Shorts medals came! I'm so excited that I got to participate in this inaugural event and I hope rD learned a lot from it and does it again.

Next weekend is graduation (crazy!) and then the roadtrip to Oregon begins! Almost onto the next chapter of my life and it really hasn't sunk in. It's crazy though. I'm almost a proper adult. And I don't know what to do with that. So I'm just gonna keep running...

The Road to Dopey: Week 30 - A Change of Scenery

July Miles to Date: 21.0
July Average Pace: 14:46
2016 Miles to Date: 189.4
Yoga Sessions this week: 3
Streak Day: 99 (Maximum: 99)
The American 200: 194.9/200 (9/16/16 Deadline)

Day 99. How in the world did we get to Day 99????? It's been quite the week. First I had a wonderful Girl's Day Out with some Texas friends for a birthday. We went to a spa and a fancy bowling alley and it was a wonderful way to spend my last day in Texas.

Then I went to Ohio to visit my parents, where I ran Wednesday and Saturday. It's much cooler here than in Texas, but also a little more humid and it rains more often. That's taking some getting used to.

Last night, I got to do something I never thought I'd get to do again - go to Barnes and Noble at midnight to buy a new Harry Potter book. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is the reason this blog will be so short. I want to keep reading...and I'm tired for staying up so late. It was much easier to do nine years ago...I'm not as young as I used to be.

My goal for this week's workouts is to finish The American 200 and I feel like it's a very attainable goal since there's only 5 miles to go. After that, I may look into another mileage challenge I've had my eye on.

Keep running.

The Road to Dopey: Week 29 - Embracing the Run

July Miles to Date: 15.7
July Average Pace: 14:48
2016 Miles to Date: 184.1
Yoga Sessions this week: 1
Streak Day: 92 (Maximum: 92)
The American 200: 184.6/200 (9/16/16 Deadline)

Well, after I left you all last week, I decided to do something I'd never done before. I wanted to run every day of the week to jump start my running again. With all the move things and the finishing up at school, it had been really hard for me to get out and run in the morning since my defense. I'd been doing yoga, so at least there was still some activity, but it is not the same as running. And I'm here to run. So on Sunday afternoon I texted Catie and said, "Help kick my butt in gear this week. I want to run every day."

She was a encouraging as ever (I seriously couldn't ask for a better running buddy, even if we live over 1000 miles away from each other). I didn't want to run far each morning - just at least 2 miles. And so Monday morning, I set off and ran 2.16 miles. I've been flirting with 14 min/mi for the most part this summer, so I was pretty excited to see a number closer to 13. I want to get faster than that...at least back to Princess Pace, where I was running 11-12, but one step at  a time. 

Monday was done!

Tuesday, I woke up determined to make it out again, so I made my way out the door at sunrise for another 2.15 miles. I was a bit slower, adding a minute to the miles. My legs felt tired from the packing and the running the day before, but I made it.

Tuesday: Check!

Wednesday, I woke up tired, and having taught for 4 hours the day before, I didn't know what kind of shape my legs would be in. But I was determined again to do this thing and jump start my training (again). Got another average pace closer to 13, which was a lovely surprise and a bit further distance (2.3 mi)

Wednesday! Check!

Thursday was my last run day in Waco. With the movers and the cleaning on Friday, I got a workout without really trying. So I laced up one last time and went out for a 2.14 mile run. My leg were so tired. Two days of 4 hour lab plus four straight days of running (something I've NEVER done before, even when I was in training for Princess), made for tired leg and 14 min/mi. But I did it.

Thursday! Check!

After that, I retired the blue shoes with over 300 miles on them. With only a little life left in them I decided it wasn't worth moving them. I am onto my last pair of running shoes, which means I need to get to a store to try on the Ghost 9s soon!

Friday was moving day. I did my last bit of packing in the morning and then the movers came and packed so efficiently and then they were gone! I spent the rest of the day cleaning the apartment to leave and left Friday night. I go home on Tuesday and cannot wait. It will be nice to have a couple weeks off between now and graduation and the back half of this move. I will run this week when I get to home. Until then, I'm hanging out with Texas friends, enjoying the time I have left with them as best I can, and just taking everything in.

End Week 29.

The Road to Dopey: Week 28 - A House Full of Boxes

July Miles to Date: 6.95
July Average Pace: 15:50
2016 Miles to Date: 175.4
Yoga Sessions this week: 5
Streak Day: 85 (Maximum: 85)
The American 200: 175.8/200 (9/16/16 Deadline)

When you spend your mornings packing and your afternoons teaching and your evenings hanging out with people one last time, apparently you do a lot of yoga. I ran on Wednesday and intended to run this weekend, but Friday and Saturday night I was out late and slept too long. I also have a very tight IT band so maybe it's for the best that I concentrate on getting it stretched out. I will run my normal schedule this week. I don't want to lose my running.

It's my last week in Texas. It happened so fast. I don't think I realized how soon after the defending and the turning in of the dissertation this would be here. Oh! And I turned in my dissertation this week. Now I just have to wait and hear from the grad school about whether everything is "technically" correct.

My last week in Texas so I've been trying to make the most of my time. I think that's part of the reason there's been more yoga than running. Because hanging out with people at night means I oversleep and in July in Texas, there's a very small window in which I can go running. This won't be the case after this week. And like I've said multiple times here this summer, I am looking forward to that very much.

You may have noticed (Idk, maybe not. I don't know how many people actually read and follow this) that we have our own Instagram now! So I'm posting pics for the blog there (post-run selfies and watch-shots and the like). I did it so that I could also post those things directly to the Facebook page. Are you following the blog on Facebook? I'm going to try and do better with having content there besides the blog posts (IG will help). I know that nothing is really ever going to come from this blog, but I want to at least engage with those of you who tell me about the inspiration I give you.

It's been about 10 days since I became Dr. Clark. And it's surreal. It's hard to pick a "weirdest" part. Maybe it's hearing students address me that way for the first time this week. Maybe it's having to sign emails to the students that way. Maybe it's both. Maybe it's some other part I'm forgetting. But it's surreal nonetheless.

I will get back to the running this week. I can't lose it now. After all, if I could train prior to my defense, why should a little thing like moving stop me???

The Road to Dopey: Week 27 - Two Things

July Miles to Date:
July Average Pace: 16:40
2016 Miles to Date: 173.4
Yoga Sessions this week: 4
Streak Day: 78 (Maximum: 78)
The American 200: 173.4/200 (9/16/16 Deadline)

So two things happened this week. One was much more important than the other. I didn't run a lot this week, instead choosing to do a lot of yoga to let go of the stress and anxiety that accompanies defending a doctoral dissertation. If you've never defended a doctoral dissertation, let me tell you. It's intense. It's insane. And it's entirely unpredictable. My closed-door questioning session lasted nearly 2 hours. And I felt ill-prepared and stupid through most of it.

But in the end, I passed. I am now Dr. Clark.

Dissertation-brain didn't let me think to put Dr. Clark on this delicious cake

Saturday, I went on my first run as Dr. Clark. I only make it 1.7 miles because my body and my mind are still exhausted. I'm hoping for a more regular schedule this week to allow me to do what I normally have been doing. I have two weeks left in Texas. It's all happening so fast.

The second thing that happened this week is that I started an Instagram just for the blog. So Run-fies and Medal pics will be coming through there (and posting to FB). I'm thinking of starting something on there called "Medal Mondays". I'm not exactly sure what it's going to be, but I thought it would be fun to take everyone through the medals I have earned in my 2 year running journey.

This week's blog is short because there's not a lot to report. Two weeks left in Texas heat. I can do this. I can do this. I can do this.

The Road to Dopey: Week 26 - A Wedding and a Defense

July Miles to Date: 3.2
July Average Pace: 16:47
2016 Miles to Date: 172.0
Yoga Sessions this week: 3
Streak Day: 71 (Maximum: 71)
The American 200: 172.0/200 (9/16/16 Deadline)

Oh yeah, and I made my dress.

My defense is three days away. It feels long and short. Soon and far away. Simultaneously. I'm ready, and I'm not. I will probably never be fully ready. So instead I am taking it one day at a time, reviewing what I can, and practicing. All your good thoughts on Wednesday please.

For a bit of a study break (and a bit of fun), yesterday I went to a wedding of a former labmate. It was absolutely beautiful and a great time. I saw two labmates who I haven't seen since they graduated in 2014, which was wonderful. These were the two women who taught me most of the things I turned around and applied in my research. I didn't realize how much I had missed them until I saw them again, so I was really glad I went.

As I was driving home, I realized just how quickly my time in Texas is drawing to a close. That is most likely the last time I will make that drive to Austin. I only have three weekends left here. And that is so weird. I don't know how it happened. I just turned around and it's almost over.

I won't miss Texas. I really won't. It's hot, and sprawling, and dusty, and full of pollen I'm allergic to. But there have been some great people here. And I've learned a lot of things, both in my education and about myself. I'm not the same person who moved here 5 years ago. And that's not a bad thing.

Streak day 71. 71 days of showing up for me. Wow. I know I say it every week, but when this started, I honestly didn't think I'd make it this far. I didn't think that every day for 71 days I'd do my workout. Just because I'd been doing such a capital 'B' Bad job of that for over a year. Something would obviously have derailed me. But it hasn't. I've been determined to keep this alive. And it led to over 40 miles in June!


Defense day will be a real test of the streak, however. I know I probably won't think I have time to run on Wednesday morning, so I'll have to do yoga that afternoon or evening. I am so nervous about Wednesday. It's just the unknown that scares me. The fact that they can literally ask me anything, and even though I'm reviewing and reading and studying, there is no way I can be prepared for everything. Which is terrifying to admit or comes to terms with.

So I'm going to go back to studying.

The Road to Dopey: Week 25 - The Dissertation is almost Done

June Miles to Date: 35.9
June Average Pace: 14:09
2016 Miles to Date: 163.6
Yoga Sessions this week: 2
Streak Day: 64 (Maximum: 64)
The American 200: 163.6/200 (9/16/16 Deadline)
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland - Chesire Cat: 15.6 miles

My dissertation is due in three days. My defense is in 10. Which means this week has been...stressful? Interesting? Terrifying? Exhausting? Let's go with all of the above. That seems easiest (and most accurate). it even caused a few interesting, stress induced dreams including, me being stuck in a weird version of Jurassic Park, my parents announcing they were getting divorced, and the engine seizing up in my car due to an oil leak.

There was a time that all of this going on would have meant I would have quit working out. But thanks to the streak I had going into this, it meant I had to keep my workouts. And I'm convinced it is the only thing that has helped me keep an ounce of my sanity. Run out the stress, chase away the bad dreams.

And so we arrived at 64 days of showing up for me. And I'm on track to exceed 40 miles in June, which I haven't done since January of this year.

I have to finish my dissertation this week, and my slides soon after so that my advisor can see them before he leaves for the July 4th holiday. Yeah, he's going away before my defense. That doesn't add to my stress though...

My plan for today is to do some studying for my defense, hit the grocery store for food, and generally try to rest a little bit so that I can make it through this very last final stretch.

The Road to Dopey: Week 24-Texas Pollen, you are a terrible person

June Miles to Date: 23.5
June Average Pace: 13:59
2016 Miles to Date: 151.2
Yoga Sessions this week: 4
Streak Day: 57 (Maximum: 57)
The American 200: 151.2/200 (9/16/16 Deadline)
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland - Chesire Cat: 3.1 miles

I didn't run again this weekend. Friday night, I had a sleepover with my book club, which was a whole lot of fun, but I decided not to take my running stuff with me. I didn't want to wake everyone up, have to shower there, etc. But then this morning, I woke up feeling terrible. I hope it's allergies, but my head is congested, especially in my ears. So I'll do yoga later today to keep my streak alive.

57 days. Who'd have thought that I'd have made it 57 days. I certainly didn't. Now I'm to the point where quitting seems impossible. What was the point of 57 days if I stop now? What did 57 days mean?

I increased my running this week (or at least, I tried to. It should have had a weekend run attached to it). I ran Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday (3.1, 2, and 3.1, respectively). I wanted to do 4-5 today, but it's just not gonna happen. I still need to adjust my routine (I'm still not happy with exactly what it is), I'm thinking I'm going to do my Abs workout MWF, instead of just W with my shorter miles.

Other than that, I just continue to inch forward to my defense date. It's only terrifying when I think about it. It's starting to get really annoying to have to convince my boss to do the things he's required to do, but it's really nothing different than it's been for the past 9 months. I'm ready to be gone if only so that I don't have to deal with that anymore.

I'm so excited that I will get to go home in like 5 weeks. I'm ready to be home. I'm ready to have some time off from all of this before I start the next phase of my life. It's going to be good.

Until then, we keep running. Or we try to anyway.

Stupid allergies.

The Road to Dopey: Week 23 - Another Step Backward, but the Finish Line is in sight!

June Miles to Date: 14.9
June Average Pace: 14:00
2016 Miles to Date: 152.6
Yoga Sessions this week: 4
Streak Day: 50 (Maximum: 50)
The American 200: 142.7/200 (9/16/16 Deadline)
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland - White Rabbit: 15.0 miles

I'm at a loss for what to do. I didn't do a long run this weekend. I woke up tired yesterday and today and opted for yoga instead. I couldn't wrap my mind around the thought of 7 miles when it was already 80 degrees at sunrise. I just couldn't psych myself into it. So I did Yoga Tone, which is a work out, let me tell you, and it will have to do.

My anxiety around my defense and my move is building. There's so much to do and there's a lot of pressure (from myself) to get things right the first time I write them and I have to keep showing up for me because I know that's the only thing keeping my anxiety from being worse, But I also know I don't need the pressure of my run to be a cause of my anxiety - they're supposed to relieve my stress, after all.

50 days of showing up for me. It may not look like I wanted it to, but I'm still here. I'm still showing up for me in some capacity. When I started, I never actually thought I'd make it to 50. I had so many false starts between now and then. But if we apply that logic to the current situation, we arrive at my marathon training eventually taking effect.

I've decided to restart marathon training for the third time once I move in August. The climate will be cooler, it will give me a chance to increase my mileage at the higher altitude, and I will be less stressed and anxious (at least slightly). I may even start once I get moved out of my apartment. I'm trying to figure out how to run in the mean time (I'm thinking my 3 milers from the week and 4-5 on the weekend, this way I get some miles in, but I'm not pushing myself too much and have a manageable amount of time to devote to it). I currently have a call for advice out to my running community, so if anyone has alternative suggestions, I'm open to them.

I want to keep this streak alive. I want to keep showing up for me even as I reach the end of this stressful adventure. And I think the only way to do that is to lower what I'm doing. I need your support in this final stretch, friends.

Much love to you all.

The Road to Dopey: Week 22 - Dear Texas Summer...I WON'T MISS YOU

June Miles to Date: 8.8
June Average Pace: 14:04
2016 Miles to Date: 146.5
Yoga Sessions this week: 3
Streak Day: 43 (Maximum: 43)
The American 200: 136.5/200 (9/16/16 Deadline)
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland - White Rabbit: 8.8 miles

Dear Texas Summer,
I won't miss you. I won't miss that it's 70 degrees when the sun comes up and it's only June. I won't miss that the sun is bright and hot and beating down on me when I run. I won't miss that it makes me have to stop short of my long run goals consistently because of how terrible it makes me feel.

I won't miss you, Texas the place. I will miss Texas the people.

Today is streak day 43...43!!!! I never thought I'd make it to 43. I bet you didn't either, but here we are! The past two weeks have been hard. I wake up exhausted (the home stretch of dissertating will do that to you) and the last thing I want to do is run or even do my yoga. I want to sleep. I want to start working because the sooner I start, the sooner it's over. But instead, I get up and I do my yoga with Adriene (on my TV), or I lace up and go running. I feel better afterward, but that first go is so hard. You would think it would get easier as the habit formed, but it hasn't.

This week was long and too short at the same time. And it was definitely eventful. I finished my dissertation. I FINISHED MY DISSERTATION. 188 pages, 42,000 words. It is done. Well, okay, it's drafted. I proofread it on the tail end of this week, and now I'm applying all the changes I found. I also had my technical review and ordered my regalia for graduation. I also got a date for my defense. It's about a month away. Which is terrifying.

I also had to say goodbye to two of my book club girls. They are moving on too and they left this weekend. It was so hard. I won't miss Texas the place, but I'll miss Texas the people. I wish I could just pack everyone up and take them with me.

But we keep running. Literally. The plans for the end of this summer are coming together. And the next adventure is quickly approaching.

My Alice medal came this week. This is probably my least sweaty medal selfie ever.

The Road to Dopey: Week 21 - The Texas Rainy Season

May Miles to Date: 23.3
May Average Pace: 14:08
2016 Miles to Date: 134.6
Yoga/Strength Training Sessions this week: 4
Streak Day: 36 (Maximum: 36)
The American 200: 124.6/200 (9/16/16 Deadline)
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland: 22.4 miles (Leg 1 - Complete!)

I did the best I could this week. My Thursday run became yoga because I woke up to thunder and lightning. And the gym is still on intercession hours. Which is inconvenient. I had intended to run Friday instead, but I woke up to thunder and lightning again. So I did more yoga/strength training. Yesterday I had intended to run 7 miles, but I got sick at 1.6 miles and went back out for 2.5 more. I had intended to run 3 more this morning. But I woke up to an imminent thunderstorm.

We're in the middle of the Texas rainy season, and while I'm grateful that the worst we've gotten is that I haven't been able to run as much as I'd like, it's still getting annoying. At least the summer session starts soon, which means that the gym will be open in the mornings again.

I got the go ahead to schedule my defense this week, which is awesome but terrifying. I've been working on my dissertation non-stop since then, writing what needs to be written. I'll have the first draft completed this week, which feels incredible and terrifying. I'm going to need the run so much in the next few weeks.

I also completed the first leg of my Alice virtual race yesterday. It took a little longer than I thought because of the rain and the back tracking in my training, but I still did it! I'll be registering for leg 2 (White Rabbit) this week, after payday.

That's really all I know. Today I'm taking a mental break and not working on my dissertation. I think I need it, and have earned it. Lounging, crafting, and Harry Potter weekend. Yep, sounds great!

Training plan for the week:
Monday: Runner's Yoga, Yoga Abs, Strength Training
Tuesday: 3.1 miles
Wednesday: Runner's Yoga, Yoga Abs, Yoga Tone
Thursday: 3.1 miles
Friday: Runner's Yoga, Yoga Abs, Strength Training
Saturday: 9 miles

The Road to Dopey: Week 20 - Let's back up...

May Miles to Date: 16.1
May Average Pace: 14:04
2016 Miles to Date: 127.4
Yoga/Strength Training Sessions this week: 3
Streak Day: 29 (Maximum: 29)
The American 200: 117.4/200 (9/16/16 Deadline)
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland: 16.1 miles (Leg 1)

This week I realized I have to back my training up a bit. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday saw excellent yoga sessions. I still have problems fitting in both yoga and strength training sometimes, but hopefully this week will be better! Every week that goes by, I get better at getting up and getting to it and I'm currently on Streak Day 29!!!!!! I am experiencing the desire to not restart that counter more and more each day...the higher that number gets...the harder it is to give up.

Tuesday I did my normal 2.5 mile loop and Thursday I decided to forgo hill training and run my 5K for the Virtual Running Shorts runDisney Challenge. It also let me road test my new Garmin Forerunner 235! I think I'm really going to love using this as I increase my training mileage because I won't have to worry about the battery life on my phone! Plus it's a smart watch and pedometer, which means I can wear it all the time. Which means, lately, I've taken to wearing two watches. I'm eccentric.  What can I say...

The 13 miler I was supposed to do yesterday turned into a 5 miler. I just didn't have 13 in me. And that's when I realized...I haven't run 13 miles since March, when I PR'd the Bearathon. Worse than that, I have run further than 4 miles since March. So I've decided to backtrack my training just a little bit and build back up to 13 miles and then keep going with the training as it is written. So this coming weekend I'll do 7 miles. Then 9. Then 11. Then 13. Then I'll pick up where I'm leaving off.

Otherwise, things are going okay. Everyone say a little prayer, if you're so inclined. I may be able to schedule my defense soon if certain things happen this week. I also applied for a place to live when I move, so hopefully I'll hear on that this week too. My time in Texas is slowly coming to and end and I have mixed feelings about that.

I'm probably going to be finishing up the first leg of Alice this week as well. I'm thinking about increasing my weekday runs to 5K length, just to increase my normal endurance. And since I'll be increasing my weekend mileage, it only makes sense to up my endurance during the week as well. Alice only has 6.3 miles left, so I want to split that between Tuesday and Thurday and then start Leg 2 (White Rabbit) with my 7 mile run on Saturday.

Training plan for the week:
Monday: Runner's Yoga, Yoga Abs, Strength Training
Tuesday: 3.1 miles
Wednesday: Runner's Yoga, Yoga Abs, Yoga Tone
Thursday: 3.2 miles
Friday: Runner's Yoga, Yoga Abs, Strength Training
Saturday: 7 miles

The Road to Dopey: Week 19 - Virtual Reality

May Miles to Date: 5.5
May Average Pace: 14:37
2016 Miles to Date: 116.8
Yoga/Strength Training Sessions this week: 4
Streak Day: 22 (Maximum: 22)
The American 200: 106.77/200 (9/16/16 Deadline: 41 miles ahead of schedule)

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland: 5.5 miles (Leg 1)

A lightning storm yesterday morning (coupled with the gym being closed for the intersession) killed my plans to run 13 miles. But otherwise, I stayed on plan all week. And when my plans were ruined yesterday, I just adjusted the plan. I did a new yoga sequence (Yoga Tone...man was that intense!) instead. I know it wasn't the same workout as 13 miles, but at least I did something. And it kept my workout streak alive. As predicted it's becoming "the norm" and everyday I wake up and consider not doing a workout, I'm motivated by the fact the counter will reset to 1 if I don't...

I'm also discovering more about the world of virtual racing. Not being able to race for bling is sad after a year of bling earning. But I know financially and logistically, I can't be traveling like I did in 2015 for races. And I need to focus on my training if I want Dopey 2018 to be a reality. So I'm warming up to the idea of the virtual race. Especially ones that are mileage challenges. Like the Texas 200 that I completed in March, or the American 200, which I'm currently completing. 

I signed up for the first leg of a new challenge this week: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. This is a 6 part Challenge, with each leg a different length. The first leg is 22.4 miles, and I'm currently 5.5 miles in. Next weekend, I also have the first race of the Virtual Running Shorts coming up. The Yellow Shoe race event started today and I have until June 1 to complete it. My plan for completing it is including in my plan for the week below. 

I'm so proud of myself for sticking with my streak this week, especially after a week on vacation. It would have been really easy for me to not get back to it, but if anything, Disney inspired me to continue working toward my next runDisney race.

This week, I think I'm going to shake up my MWF routine, since I'm exploring my yoga possibilities. I'm excited to see how it goes. Let y'all know next week!

Plan for the week:

• Monday: Runner's Yoga, Quick Abs Yoga Workout, Strength Training
• Tuesday: 2.5 mile maintenance run (All miles for Alice's Adventures)
• Wednesday: Runner's Yoga, Quick Abs Yoga, Yoga Tone
• Thursday: 3 miles (Hill workout! All miles for Alice)
• Friday: Runner's Yoga, Quick Abs Yoga Workout, Strength Training
• Saturday: 13 mile training run (3.1 miles to Yellow Shoe Virtual 5K, 9.9 miles to Alice)

The Road to Dopey: Week 18 - A week off doesn't mean no miles!

May Miles to Date: 0
May Average Pace: ---
2016 Miles to Date: 111.3
Yoga/Strength Training Sessions this week: 0
Streak Day: 15 (Maximum: 15)
The American 200: 101.27/200 (9/16/16 Deadline: 50 miles ahead of schedule)

I spent the week at Disney World and had so much fun! It was a much needed vacation and celebration, and I feel ready to finish my PhD now. Not that I haven't been ready for a while, mind you....

I don't have  a lot to report this week. You may have noticed that my American 200 miles jumped quite a bit...that's because I decided to count my Disney walking miles because I think it was really impressive that I walked over 60 miles this week.

This doesn't include the 6 miles from our arrival day. 

This week I plan to:
-Monday, Wednesday, Friday: Yoga/Strength
-Tuesday: 2.5 miles
-Thursday: 3 miles (with hills)
-Saturday: 13 miles

Wish me luck! Let's get back to it!

The Road to Dopey: Week 17 - Making the most before a week off

I forgot to publish this Sunday, but here it is! See you in two days to talk about this week!!!


April Miles to Date: 16.5
April Average Pace: 14:16
2016 Miles to Date: 111.3
Yoga/Strength Training Sessions this week: 3
Streak Day: 8 (Maximum: 9)
The American 200: 37.3 mi/200 (9/16/16 Deadline: 12.5 miles behind schedule)

Dopey went on sale this week. And it didn't sell out right away. Which made me want to register all the more. But I know two things: 1) I cannot afford it yet and 2) I can't guarantee that I can devote my training time. I know I'm going to do my best once I move, but I don't want 48.6 miles hanging over my head. And I would prefer to get one more year to get a proper Proof of Time and proper training.

But I did get to register for the new Virtual Race series runDisney announced. I'm finally coming around to the virtual races...not all, but some. I like the rD ones just because it's an organization I like and support and if I can't race at Disney until 2018, at least I can race for Disney. And I like the longer distance ones like the Texas 200 or the American 200 I'm doing now because there is a degree of accountability to it. It's exciting to have "races" again on my calendar. My mom registered for them too, which was so exciting! I hadn't told her, but I was hoping I could convince her to do a 5K the next time we do a rD weekend, and this is certainly a step in the right direction!

I made both my runs this week. I went to the gym on Tuesday thanks to humidity and needing to get it in earlier than the sun is currently coming up since I'll be gone all next week, but I did it nonetheless. Thursday I woke up with a small headache (thanks a lot allergies), but I decided to go out anyway and I'm glad I did because I actually felt better when I was done! It still amazes me how that works.

I did all my yoga/strength training this week too. I did most of them at night, which seemed to work really well. 1) It really helped me let go of my day and 2) it worked really good for my schedule. I may have to try and keep this up in the future.

But for now, it's time to make some more magical memories with my mom (that don't involve 3 am wake up calls!). See y'all next week!

The Road to Dopey: Week 16 - Running on the Road

April Miles to Date: 11.6
April Average Pace: 14:45
2016 Miles to Date: 106.4
Yoga/Strength Training Sessions this week: 2
Streak Day: 2 (Maximum: 9)
The American 200: 32.5 mi/200 (9/16/16 Deadline: 9 miles behind schedule)

I want that April miles number to be higher than it is. I want that April average pace to be higher than it is. But it's not going to be. April will end with a maximum of 17 miles. And there's nothing I can do about that except resolve to be better in May. May will be hotter. May will be more humid. May will be shorter, because I'm not running at Disney (but I'll be walking a lot and still getting miles under my feet, so that counts for something, right?). The good news is, this won't ruin my streak...I've always planned to take Disney week off. A runner I follow on IG just had her 700th streak day...which is remarkable and inspiring. When I commented as much, she offered me this advice:

Just take it one day at a time. It eventually just becomes "the norm" and harder to not do it than to get out the door.

So that's what I'm doing, starting today.

I did something I've never done before this week: I took my workout gear and running shoes on a work trip with me. Wednesday, when I made it to my hotel, I took a towel out of the bathroom and spread it on the floor and did my strength training followed by my yoga before I went out to dinner. The following morning, I put on my workout gear and went down to the hotel gym to run on the treadmill.  I only made it a mile. There wasn't a fan in the gym (seriously?) and I forgot to kick on the a/c unit before I started, so I got really warm, REALLY fast. And even though #summeriscoming in Texas, my body is not ready for it yet. As evidenced by my long run on Saturday. I knew it wasn't going to be that 13 miler I keep putting off. I'm readjusting my training calendar, so it will be the week after I get back from Disney. I was aiming for between 4 and 6 miles; my legs were sore from all the walking I'd done uphill in fancy shoes. I only got 4. It was weirdly cool, but muggy outside and I was starving. But I did 4. That counts for something right?

My workout plan for the coming week:

• Monday, Wednesday, Friday: Yoga/Strength Training
• Tuesday: Run 2.5 miles 
• Thursday: Run 3 miles with Hills
• No Saturday run

Here's hoping I can stick to it. Because running and I aren't done yet. We're just beginning. 

The Road to Dopey: Week 15 - When sickness knocks you flat

April Miles to Date: 6.5
April Average Pace: 14:28
2016 Miles to Date: 101.3
Yoga/Strength Training Sessions this week: 0
Streak Day: 1 (Maximum: 9)
The American 200: 27.4 mi/200

Well, then. I didn't blog last week because I didn't think I had much to say. And then I didn't work out all week. On Sunday, I went for an easy 4 mile run that I wound up walking the great majority of because my legs felt like lead. That afternoon I had a terrible headache and went to bed nauseous. Monday morning I woke up feeling like I'd been hit by a truck and went home sick from work (no workout that morning). That evening I still felt nauseous and the next morning I woke up and got sick (no run). Thankfully, this was the last day I felt too sick to work or do anything more than lay on my couch all week, but because I was massively dehydrated for the rest of the week, I didn't do any workouts. Additionally, I only went back to eating real food on Thursday, which meant my fuel reserves for working out were pretty much depleted.

I knew I shouldn't be running or strength training, or even attempting yoga, so I listened to my body and stayed lazy. I'm chomping at the bit to get back to it and since this morning was the fifth straight morning I woke up feeling okay and actually hungry, I am determined to get back to it this week. I'm traveling Wednesday through Friday, but there is a gym at my hotel and I'm toying with the idea of packing my running shoes and using the treadmill. Got to get those miles in before my vacation where I'm not even attempting to run in LESS THAN TWO WEEKS.

I am so very excited to go back to Disney and to get to enjoy more of it than last time. I love running races at Disney and I'm anxious to return and do another one, but the eating schedule, the resting of my legs, and the early bedtimes keep you from doing everything. I'm also really looking forward to some bonding time with my mom.

Wish me luck on my workouts this week. I'll be sure to update you about my travels and success or failures next week. Until then, it's BOSTON week, which is a big week for this sport I have come to find myself a part of. Good luck to all the runners. #BostonStrong

The Road to Dopey: Week 13 - Learning the importance of Yoga

April Miles to Date: 0.0

March Average Pace: --

2016 Miles to Date: 94.8

Yoga/Strength Training Sessions this week: 5

Streak Day: 8 (Maximum: 9)

The American 200: 20.9 mi/200

I kept my streak up this week, even if I only ran once. I woke up with a headache on Thursday, and then yesterday, my IT bands made my hips feel like they were on fire. It had been building for days and I foolishly ignored it and now, now I wish I could run. 

This week I learned the importance of my yoga as I increase my mileage. I stopped a week or so ago because I didn't like the routine I was using, and between just my strength training and running, added to the uncomfortable chair I sat in most of the week, I really tightened up my IT bands. So yesterday I found a new yoga routine which is wonderful, and I'm hopeful to be back at it on Tuesday. I think I'm just going to push back everything two weeks since I've skipped my last two Saturday runs. 

Still, my March calendar wound up looking a lot better than my February one. 

So here's to April.

On a personal note, I accepted a job on Friday. Which means no more travel (or less travel at least), and no more interviews, and more consistent training (or at least less excuses). Now I just need to defend. And goodness knows I will need my workouts to keep my sanity in that.

The Road to Dopey: Week 12 - Working on a streak

March Miles to Date: 35.0
March Average Pace: 14:05 min/mi
2016 Miles to Date: 92.3
Yoga/Strength Training Sessions this week: 3
Streak Day: 1 (Maximum: 9)
The American 200: 18.4 mi/200

My streak ended at 9 so we are going to try again. I had to trade a run day Thursday for strength training because I desperately needed to go grocery shopping. I intended to run Friday, but then I woke up not feeling well. Saturday morning, I had to force myself out of bed and this morning I didn't feel well. I feel guilty for not having worked out in 3 days, which is a good sign (I think) but I hope to get back on it this week.

Other than that, it was an uneventful week. I need to find a new yoga sequence, or I may drop it all together for the moment. That's really all I know.

Happy Easter!

The Road to Dopey: Week 11 - A dozen halfs, a PR, and a racing hiatus

March Miles to Date: 33.0
March Average Pace: 14:06 min/mi
2016 Miles to Date: 90.3
Yoga/Strength Training Sessions this week: 2
Streak Day: 6
The American 200: 16.4 mi/200

Wow, where do I even start with this week? So much happened! Let's start with the stats above this text, since you may notice they've changed from how I've been reporting them for the past weeks. I've changed my workout schedule. My strength training wasn't happening on my run days so I moved it to my yoga days since the yoga routine I do is only 20 minutes and strength training is 10-15. Now both my workout days will be about the same length. "Streak Day" is also something I'm starting. I want to go on a 30 day workout streak, where I follow my workout calendar for 30 straight days. I fell like this will help me stay accountable. I can't excuse my way to Dopey. I have to actually train, because actually training pays off...which I'll get to in a minute.

Now, The American 200 is a virtual challenge I'm doing. Last week I completed The Texas 200, which was a virtual challenge to run 200 miles anywhere in the state of Texas. I barely completed it, thanks to all my training derailments last fall, but I did it. And in an effort to keep the accountability going, I signed up this week for The American 200, which is the same concept as the Texas 200, but I can run the miles anywhere in America, not just Texas. Which is good since there's a good chance I'm moving out of Texas before my 6 months on this challenge are up.

So, training this week. I started my streak on Tuesday, which means I ran all my training runs this week. I did my normal maintenance loop on Tuesday, still focusing on pacing myself, and on Thursday I did my hill routine. My hill routine may not be "hilly" enough, but it's the best I can do where I live right now, since the real hills don't have sidewalks.

Yesterday, I ran my 12th half marathon. It's also the last race I have officially scheduled for the foreseeable future. A bittersweet decision, but I know I have a lot of big things coming up, and focusing on training for Dopey is important. I know that I'll race again before Dopey (I'll need a POT after all), but who knows where or when that will be.

Originally, I had wanted to go sub-3 on my half yesterday, but I was concerned that wasn't going to happen since my training in February hadn't been as on point as January had been and March is shaping up to be. But like I told Catie, if I could have a well-paced race, I would be happy. So when I went to the starting line yesterday morning, that was all I hoped for: a well-paced race.

Well I got it, with the exception of the middle of the race, where I slowed significantly taking the hills, I ran a pretty consistent mile (~14 min). As my running app told me the time on mile 12, I started to cry a little and I texted Catie: I think I'm going to PR. When I made it to the bridge (on the other side of which was my finish line) I dug in deep and headed up and over. As I reached the crest of the bridge, I could see the clock and I could see that my PR was mine! I ran to the finish and crossed in 3:11:27, shaving 6 minutes off my PR for a half! Again, not sub-3 and still a long way to go to where I want to be...but it's a big deal for several reasons:

1. It's a PR...by quite a bit! YAY!
2. I ran my intervals for all 13 miles. This is the first time this has happened EVER. Normally by mile 11 at least I have to start walking, but I kept pushing forward and was running even at the end. 
3. I only skipped a few on my running intervals, most of which were on the steeper parts of hills.
4. I managed to pace myself so that I could make it to the finish, a first.

It may have taken 12 half marathons, but I finally figured out how to race.

And now we train.