Bayshore Half Marathon Training: week 18 - the home stretch!!!

Woo-hoo!!!! I've made it through the last long run before Bayshore :)  Next week at this time, you *should* be getting a race report!

I'm definitely feeling the effects of 18 weeks of training and 3 running races as training runs for the past 6 weeks.  In hindsight, that probably wasn't the smartest move on my part since it seems from the PRs I've set in 2/3 of those races (and the 3rd being my 2nd fastest half ever), I'm incapable of NOT racing a race.

Anyhoo....because I'm feeling the effects of training and at this point, I can't really do anything to IMPROVE my result at Bayshore but could certainly injury myself if I'm not careful, I went pretty much off-book this week.

Monday 5/13/13 - Plan RUN 3 MI - Did BIKE 7.8 miles in 34 minutes.  I was still sore from the River Bank Run 25k 2 days prior (mostly my ankle being all jammed up) and didn't think a run was the best plan.  Instead, I saw my sports chiro and biked.

Tuesday 5/14/13 - Plan SWIM (:30)/STRENGTH (:30) - Did REST.  I'm not sure why, I must have had stuff going on or something because it's unusual for me to log nothing.  

Wednesday 5/15/13 - Plan RUN 6 MI tempo - Did RUN fail.  I tried to run and only made it about 1/2 a mile.  Too much stuff hurt that hadn't hurt before I started running that day.  I ended up walking most of my 2.35 mile route (that I obviously turned around early because that was no where close to 6 miles).

Thursday 5/16/13 - Plan RUN 3 MI - SWIM 1000 yards in just under 30 minutes.  I'm slow but the water felt nice. 

Friday 5/17/13 - Plan SWIM (:30)/STRENGTH (:30) - Did RUN 3.1 in 29 minutes.  I got another new skirt to try and only planned to run about a mile, but I had a really shitty day at work and needed to burn off some stress.  My legs felt great and I just needed to RUN.

Saturday 5/18/13 - Plan RUN 12 miles - Did RUN 6.07 miles in 1:01:29.  Who in the name of all that's holy thought a 12 mile training run the week before a half marathon was a good idea???? That Runner's World Smart Coach plan is whack, I'm telling you!  I had 8-10 miles in my head but I wasn't feeling it Saturday morning so 6 miles it was.  I tried to pace myself and go nice and easy, but I still managed to average a 10:07 pace.  Oops.  The good thing? My new Lululemon Pace Setter skirt decided to ride up for the first 3 miles, but then I pulled the shorts back out of my Hoo Ha and they were fine the rest of the run.  I'm going to wear the skirt for Bayshore and hope for the best.

Sunday 5/19/13 - Plan BIKE/RUN brick (1:05/:20) - I went shopping with my girl.  Sometimes that's just more important and I came out of it with quality time with Kay and a really HOT pair of Toms platform wedges.  Don't worry, I won't wear them until AFTER the race since it would be my luck to roll and ankle this week.

Truth be told - I'm tired and getting worn out.  Chatting with one of my friends this past week, I realized I need a break after Bayshore.  Biking, swimming, strength training are fine - but my running muscles need a rest.  I have a friend coming into town the 2nd week of June, so I'll be running with her, but I probably won't run much before that.  I'm hoping I can keep up with her when she gets here :)

Meal Monday: Curried Chicken Salad with Apples

I saved this recipe to ziplist quite a while ago but never got around to making it. That changed yesterday. You can find the original recipe plus ziplist plug in here. Her pictures are also much better than mine, but I don't claim to be any kind of food photographer & I do my best with my little eye phone. In any case, I give you

CURRIED CHICKEN SALAD with APPLES

Ingredients:
8 oz cooked chicken breasts - cubed (I used a large can of Swanson chicken, drained)
4 celery stalks - minced
1 apple - diced
1/2 cup plain low fat yogurt (I used Chobani fat free plain)
1 Tbsp curry powder
1 Tbsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp salt


1. Wisk together yogurt, curry powder, lemon juice and salt in a medium bowl.


2.  Add chicken, apples and celery.  Toss well then refrigerate for a while to let the flavors blend.

this picture is terrible - I am sooo sorry

3.  Enjoy!


I really liked this one - the curry gives the chicken salad a nice kick and it's a really pretty color - but I think something is missing.  Next time I make it, I'm going to try crushed pineapple instead of the apple and see how that works. I think grapes would be good too.

What's your favorite addition to chicken salad?

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Race Photos! #53rbr #25k #runchat

Finally, a race where I don't hate every.single.picture.taken!  Granted, I look at these pictures and see so many things about my running form (among other things) that need to change, but still.  These aren't altogether horrible so I thought I'd share.

Oops - caught looking at my watch!

Around mile 15?

Determined - but the chick on the phone isn't impressed.

Home stretch - and both feet off the ground!

DONE!!

Official chip time was 2:41:33.

And because I couldn't just show the decent pictures, I figured I'd give you all a laugh at my expense and post a couple of the really bad ones.  It's no wonder my hands hurt after this race - in every picture I look like I'm ready to punch someone out.  Note to self - open your hands every now and then!  Also - keep working on that mid-foot to fore-foot strike, cuz it ain't there yet.


Now, the big question.  Do I buy a picture and if so...which one?

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone