I’ve done some moderately hard tempo runs and some fast finish miles here and there but yesterday I decided to do mile repeats. I’ve been focusing on building distance and not speed. But I really wanted that “how I feel after I kill a speed workout feeling”. So naturally, I did the mile repeats. They always hurt and I’m always left with the feeling of, I just worked hard for that and I’m glad I did- now let me conquer the rest of this day.

If I was in the peak of my training, I would likely do 5 repeats and I honestly considered doing 5, but instead finished with a strong 4. As I was finished up the 4th, I let the thought enter my head again to perhaps do 5, but decided I was happy with the effort I put out and there was no need to prove that I could in fact do a 5th. Sometimes it is important to get the extra in and push through it, but sometimes it’s equally as important to end feeling strong knowing that you can keep pace and crush the last repeat.

I have done a good job listening to my body for the MOST part in this post surgery journey, minus 2-3 runs….. (remember this one… ouch… I do) when most of my body was ready but a few areas were not). Today, I knew 4 was enough, and I was perfectly content with it.

The workout went down like this:

15 minute warm up

4 X 1 Mile @ 6:25, 6:22, 6:22, 6:15 with quarter mile jogs between sets.

15 minute cool down

Building a high mileage base has helped with my confidence for a workout like this. If you think about running around 7-10 miles most days of the week, then 4 mile repeats, while the pace might be hard and taxing does not seem like that many miles. I can mentally wrap my head around less than 26 minutes of hard running.

I do believe I’ll be focusing more on the high miles rather than the speedy speedy stuff through the rest of my Boston training though. It’s what makes me happy right now and is much less stressful than the pressure of speed work.

I know I’ve said it a lot recently, and I’ll probably say it many more times; I really don’t know if there is a PR in April, but workouts like this and my 20 on Saturday are giving me confidence that it could be within reach. The 4 week recovery after next week won’t be nearly as intense as the 6 weeks I had back in October, not to mention this surgery won’t take as much out of my physically.

Regardless of all that talk, I’m starting to enjoy my running in a different way. Although I have been a mom for a year and a half now, my alone running time has become more and more valuable and helpful for my sanity as of late. I haven’t been seeing it as a task I need to get done as much as I used to, I’ve been seeing it more as a freedom.

I’ve always enjoyed what running brings me, but the freedom right now has been something I’ve needed more than ever recently. I love that I have chosen to stay home with Marshall and I by no means have it rough at all. (My sister does this with two kids and her husband is overseas for months at a time… I know I have it made) But man no matter how you slice it being in charge of another human being all day everyday can just wear you down sometimes and running has proven to be my saving grace time and time again. I honestly don’t know how people do it if they don’t workout. I would be crazier than I already am without it.

That being said, I’ll just say I feel like the luckiest lady alive that I get to be Marshall’s mom.  

Children’s Museuming…. what we do in between naps once a weekish to get out of the house! Pretty sweet to live so close to such an awesome place.

My dad was in Indy this week taking my mom to the airport & asked us to go to the RV show at the fairgrounds. Sure, why not? And these boys sure are cute with their popcorn. Also, I’m pretty sure Marshall mattered the word PEE while we were there.

The post Some Speed appeared first on Lindsey Hein.

It’s definitely not necessary to already be doing a 20 mile run for a marathon that is on April 21st. But I’ve had it in my head that I wanted to get one in before my surgery that’s quickly approaching. (two weeks from yesterday) I’ll be taking four weeks off and wanted this for my confidence and sense of accomplishment more than anything. Come on, everyone loves the sense of satisfaction a 20 miler gives you.

I haven’t been following a real plan these past few weeks, but I have an idea in my head with what I want to accomplish each week give or take some miles and just get it done.

The run today felt good. I felt strong, confident and owned it. I did not want to run too hard, but settled into a comfortable pace early on that was a little speedier than I had anticipated. For the first 10 miles, I reminded myself over and over again to not pick it up and remain consistent, so that I didn’t crash in the final stretch.

I ran with my watch underneath my arm warmers and only peaked at it 4-5 times total during the whole run. I wanted to run based on feel, not what my watch said. I had a good idea what paces I was putting out though. Speaking of my arm warmers- I felt perfect in long tights, a tank top and arm warmers… I saw so many people in coats out running. I feel like I looked underdressed but I’d have been burning up in long sleeves, seems like almost every person I saw was overdressed!

I also ran with music today, which is something I rarely do during outdoor runs. 

Three reasons I usually don’t run with music outside-

• Safety- which I let slide today since it was Saturday morning and I knew the monon would be hoppin with people anxious to get outside after the week we’ve had weather wise.  I did have my mace on me though!

• I use my phone for music and have yet to find a holder that works so I just carry it, which is kind of annoying. (any armbands I’ve found to hold the iPhone are huge! I don’t even have particularly small arms, but they are way too big.)

• I race without music, so I like to simulate that in outdoor runs. Especially a long run. I don’t think it’s totally neccesary to always do that though.  

Splits:

Mile 1- 8:17 

Mile 2- 7:57 

Mile 3- 7:53 

Mile 4- 7:53 

Mile 5- 7:49 

Mile 6- 7:51 

Mile 7- 7:52 

Mile 8- 7:47 

Mile 9- 7:43 

Mile 10- 7:45 – Turnaround in Carmel yay!

Mile 11- 7:36 – Tell myself to keep it in check so I can speed up last 5 or at least hold pace!

Mile 12- 7:52 – Gel (peanut butter Hammer)

Mile 13- 7:50
 
Mile 14- 7:29 

Mile 15- 7:35 

Mile 16- 7:28 

Mile 17- 7:24 

Mile 18- 7:24 

Mile 19- 7:27 

Mile 20- 7:15 – get home girl. shower. food. water. kid. couch. It all awaits you, so move it.

Average Pace: 7:42

Total Time: 2:34

The legs felt a bit heavy but just what you would expect. Nothing crazy. I thought about how the last time I set out to run 20 miles, it was a big fail. I thought about what I put my body through just 3 months ago and how thankful I am that I CAN be running 20 miles, I thought about the alone time I was having and appreciated it, I thought about how far an Ironman is and in comparison how short 20 miles is, (I’m just about finished with Chrissie Wellington’s book, “A Life without Limits“- read it people! So inspiring), I thought about how good finishing this run and finishing my next marathon will feel. And I thought about keeping form. That’s really about it. Nothing too deep.

There are a lot of mind games that can happen in a 20 mile run. Just like in the marathon, it WILL BE overwhelming if you think of the total distance all at once. But, if you chose to stay in the mile, right where you are, and evaluate your body one step at a time, you’ll be doing yourself a service. What you chose to do now will effect how you will feel at the end. Well isn’t that true for most things in life?

I’m feeling content going into surgery with this & the past few weeks under my belt. I do not feel up to par with my speed compared to last year in my shamrock training but distance wise, I’m there.

And I think my body will thank me for a little rest. (even if it won’t really want an entire 3-4 weeks!)

Alright, I basically just gave you an entire race recap over a 20 mile run. Oh, you just wait until I actually race again. haha.

The post 20 Miles Yo. appeared first on Lindsey Hein.

Along with “move viewed”, I also slipped in “my favorite” post of the month too…. which sometimes is closer to the least viewed….. haha.

Our “most viewed” of the year was my BRCA Gene post by a lot, with “Why Runners are Really Annoying” in a not so close second.

January:

Most Viewed: Why I’m Staying Home, The Mile Repeat

My Favorite: Running Scared

Race Reports: Rehoboth Beach Marathon

Favorite Life Thing: Being content with my decision to quit my job.

The early days of my starting to be home full time.

February:

Most Viewed: The last 20, Tired & Hungover, When a long run was just a long run

My Favorite: A Frozen Progression Run

Race Report: None

Favorite Life Thing: New Nephew born, Evan Emre Ozbilge 

Glenn’s sister Megan with Niece Sofia & a brand new Evan.

March:

Most Viewed: Shamrock Marathon Recap

My Favorite: Shamrock Marathon Recap, The Big PR from the Coaches Prespective

Race Report: Shamrock Marathon Recap

Favorite Life Thing: No really, I was happy about that race. 

Finished with my fastest 26.2 to date.

April:

Most Viewed: I added miles & I got tough

My Favorite: I added miles & I got tough

Race Report: Rock the Relay, Carmel Half Marathon

Favorite Life Thing: I met a new friend, who is one of my best now- Ashley, My last big event for Back on My Feet & transitioning to being a Stay at Home mom full time (although I quit in late December- I still worked for them through end of April.

Rock the Relay

Back on My Feet Birthday Luncheon- my last big hooray.

This is after the Indy Women’s half- but wanted to share a picture with Ashley. I wasn’t creepy enough to ask her for a pic after Carmel, when we’d just met 30 minutes earlier.

May:

Most Viewed: Triathlon Training- Muncie 70.3

My Favorite: Learning to be a swimmer, or many a runner who can swim

Race Report: 500 Festival Mini Marathon

Most Exciting Life Thing: My sister got married, We launched our Coaching Business, Marshall started walking, Glenn returns to running after two months off, My first Mother’s Day

After the 500 Festival Mini Marathon- used this race as a training run for a race I didn’t end up doing… can’t plan everything!

Ericka & Rick at their destination wedding. Just the two of them, wish we could have been there!

June: 

Most Viewed: Triathlon #1 Recap

My Favorite: My road to the Chicago Marathon

Race Report: Triathlon #1 Recap

Most Exciting Life Thing: Marshall’s first birthday, Glenn’s first Father’s Day, Starting to run with the RUSTED BEARS- new friends!

First open water swim survived!

Marshall turns one

New friends: Rusted Bears! Right before Amy’s Half!

July:

Most Viewed: Ironman Muncie, Do you have a running BFF?

My Favorite: Ironman Muncie

Race Report: Fire Cracker Six, Ironman Muncie

Most Exciting Life Thing: Ironman Muncie, Having the balls to finally get my blood work done for my gene test

Before the swim: Scared, Nervous, Excited, Focused.

Entering the pain train of 13.1 miles after swimming 1.2 & biking 56. Never felt anything like it. Different kind of hurt than end of marathon pain.

My loves who cheered me on!

August: 

Most Viewed: BRCA 2 Gene & my decision

My Favorite: BRCA 2 Gene & my decision

Race Report: Eagle Creek Trail Half Marathon, Glenn CRRG 5K #1, Lindsey’s CRRG 5K, Glenn’s CRRG 5K #2, Indianapolis Women’s Half Marathon

Most Exciting Life Thing: No post really, but we both turned 30 & celebrated 5 years of marriage, joining Oiselle Team!

Glenn’s 30th Birthday

When Glenn took second at the Eagle Creek Trail Half Marathon. The kid that won had never ran a race before & wore big beats by dre head phones. Really.

5th Wedding Anniversary

Running in my Oiselle Gear w/ Cadence and niece Giovanna.

September:

Most Viewed: Not your typical Tuesday

My Favorite: Not your typical Tuesday

Race Report: Ripple Effect, Chicago half marathon

Most Exciting Life Thing: Friends throwing me a “bye bye boobies” part, Vacation to Sonoma, Marshall’s first hair cut- I don’t know if this really makes the list, but the picture is really cute.

Glenn & Marsh after the Ripple Effect.

My amazing friends threw me a going away party right before my mastectomy.

Beautiful little vacation in Sonoma with Glenn’s whole family for a wedding.

Britney making his handsome. That’s right, not shirt at the salon.

October:

Most Viewed: Surgical Bras are sexy right?

My Favorite: My take on Glenn’s Chicago Marathon, And then I cried some more

Race Report: Chicago Marathon- What now?

Most Exciting Life Thing: Getting my surgery OVER with, Going trick or treating with the cutest banana I’ve ever seen.

Mom watching Marshall during my surgery, Sister Visiting me in hospital. The race that WASN’T meant to be.

Halloween

November:

Most Viewed: What’s REALLY annoying about Runners

My Favorite: Monumental Marathon Weekend

Race Report: Monumental Marathon, Drumstick Dash

Most Exciting Life Thing: New nephew – Gunner Ceferino Gil, Glenn’s new Marathon PR

Niece Giovanna & new nephew Gunner

Glenn redeeming himself after a bad race at Chicago, just three weeks later.

Pre Drumstick Dash!

Stroller running it at the Drumstick Dash

December:

Most Viewed: Dominating the Stroller Run

My Favorite: Strong

Race Reports: None

Most Exciting Life Thing: New niece- Josephina Lynn Stazonne

All the kids on Glenn’s side of the family. Evan, Josephina, Sofia & Marshall.

Christmas 2013

Christmas 2013

The post Our Year: 2013 appeared first on Lindsey Hein.

We went to Sonoma for a wedding and last minute decided to leave Marshall with my Grandma & Mom so it quickly turned into a vacation. It was relaxing, beautiful and we had a lot of fun. I forced myself to forget about my upcoming not so exciting adventure and just enjoy not taking care of another human being for 4 days, feeling strong and healthy. I might write more about the trip later, I don’t know.

Ever since I crashed and burned at the Indy Women’s half a few weeks ago and decided I wouldn’t be racing again until after my surgery. I went kind of blah. I talked about how I might try to rally and give myself another shot two weeks later, but decided against it. I decided to step back and just enjoy running for what it is. No pressure to run fast, no stress- just fun. Just running because it makes me feel good and it makes me do life better. 

The day of the race I had contemplated  doing ended up being perfect weather and I decided to run with friends and enjoy 13.1 with no pressure. It was fun, comfortable and happy. And afterward we enjoyed mimosas and plenty of good food. Not to mention, Amy ran a half marathon PR that day in an “unofficial” race. Although I’m calling it official. The course was mapped, measured and just like any real distance race- we all went over by at least .15 on the distance. Official or not, no one runs those tangents perfectly. I’m pretty excited to cheer for friends at the Monumental this year. Amy is gonna kill her PR and I’m confident she’ll break 4 hours. Yep, it’s out there Amy. 

Mimosas and Food. HMM.

I’ve been committed to just run because it’s what I really love. 

But, I’m not good at not having a goal, while I have genuinely enjoyed running just for fun I can’t help but think about the things I want to accomplish and how I’ve got a decent road ahead of me before I can make that happen. 

Goals are what keep us going. Without goals, what is the meaning behind the workout? It feels a little  pointless to me. When I was pregnant, there was of course no time goals, but the goal to keep going and be strong through my pregnancy– it was a first so the goal was getting through it healthy, strong and in good shape. Running 3 miles the day before giving birth was something I’m still proud of. 

As I think about my recovery from the mastectomy, I have no idea what the next year will bring. And I’ve always said I’m not going to plan around what I think or hope might happen so I don’t turn things away thinking I might be doing something else. 

So my first post surgery goal. Boston?

We always say we are only going to do Boston once every 5-7 years or something. We had planned on running together in 2012, but I ended up being 7 months pregnant at that time, so I happily cheered on the sidelines.

7 months pregnant with Glenn & his parents post Boston.

There are a lot of reasons to keep it a not so frequent race. It’s stupid expensive and there are a ton of other races we’d like to venture out to. I don’t want to spend every April in Boston and drop XX dollars when there are a million other places I haven’t been. And I know it might not be a popular statement, but like a lot of races-for the most part, once you’ve been…  you’ve been. 

We all know how incredibly special and amazing Boston will be next year. We weren’t there this year and even so, I felt very emotionally connected to what was happening to the community. We’ve both crossed that finish line and we’ve both been spectators at that finish line. It hit home. I know everyone running in 2014 will be honoring those effected by the tragedy and I want to be a part of it. 

I don’t know for sure if I’ll go– I can’t predict what will make most sense for our family at that time, but at least now I’ll have the option. If I do go- I’m doing some legit long runs down in Bloomington. I won’t let the hills won’t eat me in 2014 and all monon running won’t cut it. 

Whether or not I end up going next year, when I do go again, it will be fun to run as a smarter, more experienced runner. Still a small fish in a big sea, but not quite as small as before. I’ve only run it once- in 2009 and it was only my second marathon. I didn’t know what I was doing and didn’t really know anyone there. This year I’ll know a ton of people. My running BFF Ashley will be there, along with a ton of other Indianapolis people and about a million social media friends.

Oh and it’s funny the amount of people who have wished me luck at Chicago. If you kind of read this blog and think I’m running Chicago and putting up those splits Glenn has been writing about, you must think I’m a REAL badass haha. Glenn’s running Chicago, not me! Although I have big goals for my next marathon PR- I’m not trying to jump from a 3:13 to a 2:45 haha. I will be 12 days post surgery and out there with bells and whistles and hopefully no drainage tubes. 

So for now- that’s my first “maybe” post surgery goal. My primary goal though is much more important than running any race. It’s to buck up, come out of this bad attitude and conquer this beast next week and the coming months as calmly and happily as I possibly can.

Do you go to Boston every year if you qualify? Why or why not?

Will you be there in 2014?

The post I signed up for Boston appeared first on Lindsey Hein.

Ashley and I post race.

The post 30 weekend. appeared first on Lindsey Hein.

I am. I’m going to repeat the words below in my mind and have them written on my arm.  It’s not going to hurt until mile 6 or so. But there will be some doubts that start creeping in sooner. And then I’ll get through half way and I know the feeling that will happen and I know how bad it will hurt when I’m chasing down the last 5 miles. No matter how great or how rough I feel through each piece of this run though, these are my words: 

• Brave

• Strong

• Fighter

• Relax

• Control

These words are simple. But they are going to help get me to the finish line. I have other words, but these are the five I’m choosing to focus on during this particular race. They are going to help me push as hard as I can. Reminding me that I do not need to give up, even when my body tells me it wants to and thinks it needs to.

Different words can be meaningful for different races. For instance, if I was racing a full marathon or a longer distance race, like a half ironman, I would use words more like “consistent” and “calm”… with a few of the words I’m using for this shorter race mixed in as well.

The post My Strong Words Today. appeared first on Lindsey Hein.

The Carmel Road Racing Group is an event management company that I’ve been working with a bit and when Todd presented the idea of this Thursday Night 5K series for $10 a race- I thought it was a fantastic idea. A chipped 5K that doesn’t mess with your Saturday morning long run and for that price? Why wouldn’t people be into it? So there were two races in August and there is one more Thursday, September 19th.

Marshall duties kept me home for the first of the series, but I was able to run the second one last Thursday and was excited to brush up the 5K PR. I’m not too keen on waiting the entire day to run a race, but whatevs. I went to the gym in the AM and ran 3 miles easy and then before the race warmed up about 2 miles with Glenn.

Keep in mind, this is a small race, (79 people ran) but Glenn won the last one and wanted to win this one. Looking at the times for the first one, I figured I could win for the women too, depending on who showed up. It wasn’t what I really cared about though, I really just wanted that new time.

When I was signing people in, Sarah Overpeck, (who I found out is super speedy) registered and I figured she’d probably take the win after a little chit chat when she told me she was running the Indy Women’s half as a training run and would prob run somewhere between 1:25-1:30. So at that point, I decided to make it my goal to hang with her as best as possible. When we talked prior to the race, she said she has recently found our blog- if you are reading- HI SARAH!

Another person running was Dan, who does speed work on Wednesdays with us. He and I are pretty equal in our pace, when we are both present at speed work, we run together, so I was happy to have him there to help give me a plan of where I should be in the race. I knew running with him would be a realistic pace for me.

Here’s the start! The shirtless guy in front of me is Glenn. Too close. Photo Credit: Terry Fletcher

The race breakdown:

About 30 seconds after we took off, I looked up and realized Glenn was only about 10 steps ahead of me and made a conscious decision to settle down… I was in over my head if I was that close to him and needed to slow down.

I let Sarah take off in front of me once we settled into the mile and ran with Dan through the first mile. After the first mile, Dan sped up and was running with Sarah for the majority of the rest of the race. I had them in a pretty close distance but stayed back. I kept wondering if I had it in me mentally more than anything to move in, but stayed back where I was “comfortable”. I gained a little bit in the last mile, but didn’t have it my head to want it enough to push in and pass.

Here are my Splits:

Mile 1- 5:58
Mile 2- 6:15
Mile 3- 6:23

Results Here

Average pace: 6:14 (thanks to that 5:58- err actually not thanks to… probably would have been quicker  if that first mile would have been slower and the other two faster)

I went out too fast. I should have went out at 6:10 or so and tried harder to be consistent. When I saw 5:58 on my watch, I knew that wasn’t manageable for the whole race. BUT, I haven’t raced a 5K in soooo long and my speed work indicates that I should probably have been able to hold closer to 6:05-6:10 pace. I just need to race smarter.

Somewhere around mile 1.5 probably.  Photo Credit: Terry Fletcher

I gave up a little bit mentally somewhere around 1.75-2.75. It wasn’t totally giving up mentally, but I wasn’t fighting very hard. I was able to pick it up a bit at the very end, but know I could and should have pushed that last mile in closer to 6:10-6:15 pace. I honestly just wanted to be done though. Also, I remember looking at my watch somewhere around 14 minutes thinking- oh good Glenn is still out here suffering and I bet he is working a lot harder than me. He usually does.

Photo Credit: Terry Fletcher

Now- after some good internet stalking I see that Sarah is a very good runner, with a sub three marathon under her belt. She was doing this run as a workout (as was I) but I’m sure she’s got a much speedier 5K in her too. I was happy to have someone to keep me motivated during the run.

Dan and Sarah somewhere in the middle- probably around mile 2. I’m creepin in the back, mostly holding on, thinking about chasing down.   Photo Credit: Terry Fletcher

Finishing it up! Dan was hurting- he’s going to kill his time on the next one for sure.   Photo Credit: Terry Fletcher

Conclusion: 

• A good warm up is key to success in a short distance race like this. I’m glad we did 2 miles prior.
• Trying to negative split a 5K might be more discipline and harder work than negative splitting a distance race. Control that first mile!!
• I want to break 19:00 in this distance, not sure when, but it will by my next goal for the distance. 
• I kind of like the idea of working on the 5K PR. 
• The mental game for a 5K is completely different than the mental game for a half or full marathon. I already knew that, but haven’t put it to action in such a long time.
• The CRRG Merrell 5K Series is pretty awesome. And you should run the next one. 

The post Lindsey’s CRRG 5K Report appeared first on Lindsey Hein.

I know how to work hard and am willing to push myself. I know this. I’ve done it a million times. But, for some reason, leading up to a race, I doubt my abilities.

Sometimes I think I’m willing to work harder in workouts than I am in races. I always consciously tell myself in races to remember how hard I worked in training and it wasn’t for the training day it was for THIS DAY. The splits I’ve put in indicate that I should be hit my goal. My mind and body need to agree on race day. When it hurts, I have to decide to push.

When I did a ladder workout last week. I proved to myself that I could really get done what I want to do. I hit my mile repeats faster than I’ve ever ran them and “cooled down” from the ladder in a weird kind of tempo way at a fast pace that felt very manageable. But right now, the thought of running that fast for 13 miles has me questioning what it will feel like.

I know I’ve written posts like this before, but while it’s on my mind, I’m going to talk about it.

So here’s what I need to do during the race. Mentally:

Miles 1-5: Control. Control your mind, control your thoughts. Don’t obsess over how far you are going to run. Control your body. Be comfortable during this time. DO NOT run any mile faster than 6:45 even if it feels good. This is not a good idea. Don’t do it Lindsey, don’t. And enjoy this part of the race. Soak it up and remember why you love running so much.

Miles 5-9: Settle into the pace set during first 5 miles and don’t move. Don’t slow down, don’t speed up. Chill. Think about Mumford and Sons Concert on Monday. Think about eating ALL THE FOOD. Think about the finish line and how happy you’ll be when you don’t wuss out.

Mile 9-13: Get to mile 10 and race her in as best as you can. No holding back now. Do what you can do. No matter how fast or slow you run now, it’s going to hurt so you might as well push harder.

Remember. It’s only an hour and a half of my life. Just WORK.

Here are the things I plan on repeating to myself:

• I am strong. 
• I’ve worked hard for this. 
• I want this. 
• I’m stronger than I think I am
• I can. 
• My movements are smooth. 
• My body is light. 
• I feel good. 
• Loosen up. 
• Run this mile.
• Mumford and Sons Concert
• Life is good
• Run happy
• I am confident
• I am Grateful
• Repeat

The post Pre Half Marathon Thoughts appeared first on Lindsey Hein.

My mom agreed to watch Marshall on Saturday AM during Glenn’s race- so I really had not reason to not get my long run in. I didn’t really want to do it- my legs were TIRED.

Coming off Ironman Muncie- I took 2 weeks of recovery. Still working out 6 days a week (what kind of recovery is that crazy?!) BUT, very gentle working out. Seriously it was a recovery. For the mind and body for sure. Just easy, easy stuff.

This past week, I ramped up the running. The original plan was to race the Chicago half September 8th, but I recently realized I have an important celebration on Saturday night, the night before and I don’t think I can miss it. So, I think I’ll be racing the Indy Women’s half instead.

Throughout the 70.3 training, I was running only 3-4 days a week (usually 3) and peaking out around 25 miles. The swim and the bike were the disciplines I focused on more.

This week, I ran 46 miles. For marathon training, that is a low mileage week for me, but after coming off so few miles for so many weeks, months really, my legs are FEELING IT.

So, about those 14 miles. I warmed up 1.5 miles with Glenn before his race started. I saw him off- stood in line at portapotties forever, talked to my friend Lauren who was running the quarter marathon. Naturally, I chatted with her and her husband, along with some Back on My Feet runners and waited to get back into my run until their race started.

I got to 8 miles before I made my way back to watch Glenn get finished. I was out running on random country roads and I kept getting nervous that- 1. I was going to get myself lost. 2. I’d miss him finishing because I was selfishly concerned with my own training run. 3. I’d get raped and murdered by some random scary person hiding in the cornfields I was running by.

After watching Glenn coming in, I hung out and talked to a million people and waited for the award ceremony so I could watch him get his 2ND PLACE award. (Proud wife here).

Basically it had been at least an hour since I’d stopped running. I thought about calling it a day and doing my long run today, but I REALLY wanted this rest day. Like really bad. So I convinced Glenn to do a cool down with me for at least some of the 6 I had left. He ran a mile with me, but legs were feeling beat up from the race, so I took off to get those last darn 5 over with. Talk about dragging out a long run.

It was all good though. When I started the first half of the run after our warm up and once Glenn had started his race, I had no plan on actually doing all 14 yesterday. I can’t believe how tired my legs were. I was running 8:45 miles and heavy breathing. I felt heavy and blah. I was glad to be able to finish the last 5 at a quick pace though.

I generally do not think breaking up the long run is a good idea, but flexibility is key sometimes and honestly, stopping for an hour and starting again is actually harder to do sometimes. Good mental training?

Here’s my rundown of training this week: I have quickly been reminded how much more impact and taxing on your body running is over biking and swimming. No wonder runners get injured so much. While I will always find running to be therapeutic (physically and emotionally), I have to say swimming is more so physically than running might ever be for me. Quality workouts and oh so friendly to the body.

Monday- Run, 8 miles- progression, starting at 8:15, ending at 6:30. Average pace 7:33.

Tuesday – Run, 4 miles, easy 8:24 pace, Swim, 1000 yds, easy

Wednesday–  AM Run- 6 miles, K Repeats. W/U 1 miles, 6 X 1K w/ 2 min rest. Pace for this workout was supposed to hit 5:58-6:02 mile pace, which is 3:42-3:46 per K. The paces I actually hit- 3:42, 3:45, 3:41, 3:49, 3:44, 3:48. (This was tough)

PM Run- Run, 3 Miles Easy- 8:30 pace

Thursday- Run, 4 Miles Easy- 8:00 pace, 1500 Swim (1000 free, 500 w/ some variation of breast, back, kick board and pull buoy)

Friday- Run, 8 Miles Easy- 2 mi w/ Back on My Feet at 10:50 pace, 6 on my own at 8:15 pace

Saturday- Run, 14 miles at 8:04 pace. This run was funny and my splits are all over the place. Here they are… I’m not sure if the same person was really running this. haha.

Mile 1- 8:29 
Mile 2- 8:28 
Mile 3- 8:47 
Mile 4- 8:40 
Mile 5- 8:05 
Mile 6- 8:11 
Mile 7- 8:23 
Mile 8- 8:04 
Mile 9- 9:18 
Mile 10- 7:50 
Mile 11- 7:32 
Mile 12- 6:48 
Mile 13- 6:35 
Mile 14- 7:46

Sunday- REST

Anyway- the exciting post coming up will be Glenn’s race report- this is just my rambling of training. CONGRATULATIONS to him for an amazing 2nd place finish. (You think the guy who won wasn’t wearing big Dr. Dre headphones. BUT he was.)

I hope you all are having a great weekend. It is absolutely amazingly gorgeous out today. I’m excited to chill and just enjoy it. 

The post Week Run Down appeared first on Lindsey Hein.

Pre Fire Cracker 6

When I race, I almost always say something to other females who I pass or who pass me. (unless I’m dying in the last bit of a race and can’t find the energy!) I know they are working hard. Maybe they feel powerful at the moment or maybe they are struggling. Not to be all “woman power” about it, but I feel a camaraderie with the ladies running around me. If I remind myself that I’m in my race and they are in theirs and that’s what matters, why not cheer each other on. Why not be the encourager? It’s helped me when others have said just the right thing to push me (male or female… although it’s usually a male) Girls don’t want you to pass them. Of course I don’t want to be passed by girls either, but when it happens… good job girl. Get it done.

Around mile 7 of the Carmel Half, Ashley creeped up on me. I was slowing down majorly after having gone out way too fast. I gave her a cheer and she offered to have her husband, who was riding his bike next to her hold my hat and gloves that I was carrying. I stuck it out with her for a couple of miles but had to let her go. Having her there definitely kept me from slowing down even more than I was heading toward during those couple of miles.

She finished almost a whole minute ahead of me. Her and her husband were waiting for me at the finish line with my hat and gloves though. We chatted for a few minutes and exchanged numbers and said we might try to run together. It was one of those short conversations, that I knew it might stick and we might actually end up running together. In the short conversation- I learned she and her husband live in Carmel and are both Air Force pilots. She’s ran a 3:21 marathon, she likes to ride bikes and is easy to talk to.

We’ve been running together once a week for a couple months now. AND I LOVE IT. With her job, (oh, you know, NBD, just being a badass Air Force pilot) she has random week days off when the rest of the world is at work. Perfect for my schedule. We usually run while Marshall naps in the stroller. She even pushed the stroller for a little bit during our last stroller run. I think I’ll make her do it more. We ran a 4th of July race (Fire Cracker 6) together and are talking about doing the Indy Women’s half together. We both have a goal to break 1:30, so I think it will be awesome to run together as much as we can. I know that whether we finish together or separate, we’ll both finish wondering how the other one did. Not ONLY concerned with our own time. I really like that.

This is what I love about our relationship. We aren’t competing with each other. We can definitely both throw down but would be equally happy for the other if they had a better race or good day even if we didn’t have a good day of our own. She’s not conceited, doesn’t feel entitled and works for her fast times. She knows how to work hard, when it hurts. She’s willing to push you but also no afraid to whine and tell you she feels weak sometimes. She wants to work hard and run fast times, but she’s not obsessive. She’d rather go to a concert and get a little tipsy and enjoy 3 cupcakes than be anal and perfectly fit and not enjoy indulging sometimes. My kind of girl.

I’ve been looking for a friend like this for a long time. I don’t mind running a slower or faster pace than scheduled sometimes or just in general, but it sure is nice to find a fun, kind girlfriend to run with, who just happens to be my pace.

I’ve never really been one to do my long runs with a friend. On Saturday, we ran 10- it’s what was on her schedule and I’m coming off two weeks of recovery but wanted to finish the week off with a longish run. My legs were absolutely dead because I did squats for the first time in months Friday. You know what it feels like if you haven’t used those muscles like that in months? You could do 10 reps and it would hurt. Yeah I’m still sore on Monday. What I do know is, those 10 miles would have felt a lot harder and I probably would have ran them a lot slower if I’d ran them alone.

I’m really thankful to have found my new friend. She’s got a lot of potential. That 3:21 marathon I mentioned? It was only her second marathon. I’d say she’s got some speed in her. I’m excited to work hard together, to have good runs and not so good runs. To share happy moments crossing the finish line, while I know they’ll be not so good moments during workouts that don’t go as well as expected. She is someone who understands and can share these moments with me.

Post Fire Cracker 6

The post Do you have a Running BFF? appeared first on Lindsey Hein.