4 down, 1 to go

  Well, I got through the first full week of 1/2 training without too much deviation, despite the fact that kid #4 became sick.  Now, 4 out of the 5 have been sick in the past 2 weeks.  Hopefully, this is the end of the stomach bug at our house.  I have been lucky enough to escape so hopefully I'm clear.  My son asked me the other day  "who holds the bucket when mommy is sick"?  It was so sweet, he was genuinely so concerned and said he would take care of me, since I take care of him. 
  We had a crazy busy weekend and I knew I wasn't gonna be able to run long.  I was short a few miles this week, but I was proud of myself for rearranging my schedule and getting the long run in on Thurs night. I was a few miles short of where I wanted to be because my run was interrupted at mile 8 with the call that Rylee (daughter #3) was sick.   I think that will be the key to my training...flexibilty.  With 5 busy kids and a dear hubby who works swings shift I am thrown all kids of challenges any given week.  I just need to keep my mind open. 
  Anyway, I'm feeling great and after yesterdays fast 5K, well...I'm feeling fast. (atleast at the short distances)  I think it might be a while before I'm confident in pushing to my 9:00 pace on an extended run.  I tried it Thurs and well, lets just say it was HARD.  I just need to be patient I guess. 
  Hope everyone is having a great weekend and staying healthy.

So, my first training challenge

 So, I know this might sound silly, because I know there are sure to be much bigger hurdles ahead (like how in the world I'm gonna work up to a 9:00 pace for 13 miles), but this is my first training challenge and I just officially started.  I guess being a busy mom to 5, I should expect many of these to arise, but I am intent on following my training plan as closely as possible, while accommodating the needs of 5 kids, 10 daycare kids, and the world's best hubby.  (just looking for the brownie points I'm sure I'll need on occasion to get out of the house) So, the issue....I continue to read that the "long run" is the most important in training.  No matter what, don't skip the long run..blah, blah, blah.  Well, turns out that Sat. (my preferred long run day) my oldest daughter has her first basketball tourney that pretty much lasts the entire day.  Immediately after the tourney hubby and I have to head out to bowling league.  Sunday brings 6 games of volleyball.  No, it's not hard core, but not so sure I want to run 9-10 miles from 1-3pm them play volleyball at 3pm and 7pm.  Hmmm, what to do???  If it was warmer out I would run really early on Sunday, but I still find myself a fair weather girl and really don't want to brave temps under 15 degrees.  So, there's the dilemma, simple as it sounds, I'm stumped and don't want to stray from the plan so early.  Just might have to hit the gym for 9 miles tonight.   Not sure my body (or brain) would no how to handle a 9 mile Thurs, but it just might have to.

Are you good at following your training plans?

What do you do if you have to deviate?

I wish

  So, I've been doing my daily check of the blogs I love and I have been finding myself increasingly jealous.   I hear stories of 60 degree + weather, I see pictures of gorgeous running trails and I yearn for the breeze coming off the lake and the sunrise over the ocean that some describe.  Wow, I keep thinking to myself, if I only had these idealistic conditions, the motivation wouldn't be hard to come by.  Instead, I live in the cold tundra and flatlands of Iowa, where every day recently has been filled only with the view of the 4 gym walls and the pounding of my feet on the hamster wheel.  I long to rediscover the great outdoors, even if it is running round and round in circles in my itty bitty town.  It may be a few more months before I can consistanly get an outdoor run in.  I am hoping that the 8-10 mile long runs I've been putting in on the weekends translate to long runs outside, so I'm not losing too much conditioning.  As I sit here typing this out I'm trying to look at the bright side.  Along with the "green with envy" posts about gorgeous scenery and weather are scattered posts of injury.  I am thankful to be free of pain (at the moment) and able to run, if only on the treadmill. 
  On another note, I am thrilled with my progress.  It seems that my standard daily run of 3 miles as somehow turned into nearly 5.  I have discovered that if I hit the gym in the latest evening hours it is open that the treadmills are open and I can run to my heart's content, ignoring all 30 minute max. notices.  I have been entertained by many a reality show and been able to steadily pound out the 5 miles on a regular basis.  Yippee for me!!!

Does your gym have max times on the equipment?
How is your winter training going?