Solo miles

I have officially completed 4 weeks of marathon training. Crazy how time flies when you're having fun! 

Before this week, I had practically hit all my goal mileage for each week. However, due to holidays, travel, and plain laziness, I wasn't able to get all my runs in, putting me -2 miles below my target. I know it might sound like I am being a little too nit-picky about it, but those two miles mean a lot! I try to follow the rule of 'no more than 10% increase each week' to prevent injury, but it looks like I will have to bend the rules a little bit. 

Here is what the first 5 weeks looked like. The red indicates the changes I made that day.

I have already adjusted Week 5 to bring down the mileage a bit. Originally I was to run 5 miles on Tuesday, making the total milage 21, but that would be increasing my mileage by 23.75%. Yikes! Now that it is set at 20 miles, it is only a 17% increase. Not great, but much better. (You can thank my smart husband for all that math)

To look at the full 18 week marathon training schedule just click on the link below:

NOLA Marathon Training Schedule (Google Document)

So this morning I had 9 miles to tackle. My husband's legs weren't feeling up to par and all my trusty running buddies were out of town for the holidays. That left me to face the miles solo. Boo.

And on top of that, the weather didn't look so inviting either.

So I put on my happy face and mentally prepared for the worst run ever. 

(Even though I felt like this...)

But you know what? The run rocked! I blared my music, smiled at everyone I passed, and thanked the heavens that it didn't rain one drop. 

And to put a cherry on top (even though I don't like cherries) I ran an extra mile because I felt so good! Bam! 10 miles with a 10:27 average pace.

Here's the breakdown:

Mile 1-10:38

Mile 2-9:48 

Mile 3-10:29

Mile 4-10:26

Mile 5-10:01

Mile 6-9:59

Mile 7-10:23

Mile 8-10:46

Mile 9-11:17 <---continuous incline with crazy headwind

Mile 10-10:39

I am so happy that I pushed myself to not only run by myself but to do more than I had planned. Who I am?! 

Have you ever surprised yourself with your abilities, when you didn't even want to do it in the first place? Do you hate running solo as much as I do, or do you enjoy the time to yourself?

Thankful Thursday

Thankful Thursday

It's late so I'm gonna make this snappy.

What? Who cares that it is only 8:30. I'm tired and exhausted and I just want to climb into bed and fall asleep reading a good book. 


And by the way, don't you love that I am starting my Thankful Thursday post with '...I'm gonna make this snappy.' Such a great way to really sit down and think about my blessings. Aren't I getting good at this God?

1. I am thankful for a women's bible study I joined last week. These girls are so welcoming and make me feel like I have always been a part of the group (even though I assume they have all been friends for quite some time...). It is easy to see God's presence when people are so genuine and loving. I'm really excited to grow closer to God and to these new friends. (Too soon to call them friends...? I don't know. But if we are gonna be friends, I might need to learn all their names. Yea, I'll work on that.)

2. I am thankful that I see my family this weekend. I miss them.

3. I am thankful, yet again, for my awesome husband who can follow a to-do list. The house was picked up, the kitchen was clean, and the dogs had grooming appointments. He rocks at getting things done (All I have to do is leave a little list each morning)

4. All jokes aside, I am thankful that my husband rocks.

5. I am thankful I had a girls weekend this past weekend:

Spa Night + excessive cupcake consumption + Wii Dancing = Amazing Friday night. 

Cold run + Rick's Bakery + Shopping + More cupcakes/dancing= Amazing Saturday

That is math I can do!

Now, I hope you have a wonderful Thursday. I am off to read now.

Thankful Thursdays

I always look forward to writing these posts. I'll be the first to admit that I don't sit and think about the blessing in my life near enough. I busily go throughout my day not thanking God for everything I've been given; sometimes, when you're in the middle of it, it's hard to appreciate how wonderful your life is. These posts force me to reflect on the wonderful things in my life.

So, and I thankful for Thankful Thursday. These posts force me to reflect on the wonderful things in my life. Looking back, I've done a lot of thanking:
Here, Here, Here, Here, Here, and Here

On a more superficial note, I am thankful that I wear scrubs every day to work. I don't have to give my outfit a second thought Monday-Friday and it is glorious. Who wouldn't love wearing pajamas to work every day?! The only downside- I do kinda miss looking nice some times. But only kinda.

I am thankful that Jessi posted pictures of her Halloween Extravaganza so that the whole world can see my husband in short shorts. Woah Woah!

I am thankful that Girl's Weekend is this weekend. 7-ish girls are coming to overtake the Clark house for primping, shopping, and other girly things. Poor Josh. He plans to banish himself in the game room and live off of video games, Doritos, and root beer. It's going to be a blast!

I am thankful for good runny buddies, new and old. They make the miles go by faster. They keep me accountable. They are a necessity to me. Thanks running buddies. You are all rock stars.

A running husband-So dreamy!

I love racing with friends like a fat kid loves cake!

Runners are really graceful; just look at those moves.

Thumbs up to sun in your eyes!

I am thankful for my big brother who turns 28 tomorrow! Words cannot describe how awesome Derek is and I hate that I cannot be there to celebrate his birthday with him. Luckily, he could care less, as long as I get him a Best Buy gift card. This boy loves him some Best Buy.

What are you thankful for today?

Fast is Relative

My little bloggy got a face lift the other day. Nothing too snazzy, but it was time to change things up a bit. I like my life to be simple and clean, and I feel that this new look captures that.

What do you think? 

On Saturday I completed my first long run of my marathon training schedule. I realize that I have yet to post my official 18-week training plan, but I am still fine-tuning it. Once it is finished, I promise to post it asap (Who cares Alex! Moving on now...)

Northwest Arkansas was blessed with another beautiful fall today on Saturday. The temperature was cool, the sun was shining and the leaves were full of color!

I can't say enough how much I love running in the fall. Honestly, how can one resist the trail on a day like this?

Luckily, I'm not the only one who couldn't resist a good run that day. Rock star Rachel (who ran the St. Louis Half Marathon with me) and her friend Dee Dee joined me for Saturday's run.

Dee Dee is somewhat new to distant-running so she agreed to run 2 miles (yea, she's claims she doesn't run but she demolished those 2 miles) and Rachel and I decided to bang out 6. And when I say "decided" I mean, "Rachel agreed to my 6-mile demand". She's a good friend.

Another snapshot of the Skull Creek Trail in Fayetteville. I'm loving that I have miles and miles of trails to run my little heart out.

Our times were as followed:
Mile 1- 10:05
Mile 2- 10:35 (<---We walked a tad at the end, then said "adios" to Dee Dee)
Mile 3- 10:03
Mile 4- 9:57
Mile 5- 10:13
Mile 6- 10:08
Total- 61:01
Average Pace- 10:10

Whoop Whoop. I'm proud about that pace. And look at mile 4! Yep, that's a 9 right there. I know I won't be winning races any time soon, but I'm getting faster each week. What more could a girl want?

One thing I've learned when it comes to running, is 'fast' is a relative term. Each person's perception of fast is completely different from the next. And what I considered fast 6 months ago is completely different then my idea of it now. That is why I love running so much-it is constantly changing yet always stays the same.

Look at that girl run.

Wow. She's going fast.

Thankful Thursday

Are you ready for me to be all giddy and happy about how blessed and amazing my life is? Good. Cause here we go!

I am thankful that I no longer work weekends. I never realized how much I hate working weekends until I didn't have to be on-call anymore. Not having to schedule out visits home, or when people can stay over is nice. I'm open every weekend all weekend people!

I am thankful that I love my veggies. I mean, they are just so darn good! Carrots use to be the only vegetable that I liked, and that was only if they was drenched in ranch dressing. Now I like them all, whether that be raw, steamed, grilled, broiled, or baked! Well, except beets. Who in their right mind likes beets?

I am thankful that I have quite a few friends who are prego (Yay Jen!)! This way I will know what to expect when it is my turn; it's pretty much a built in 'trial and error' system I have going here. Plus, I love holding, cuddling, and smelling babies and parents don't like to give their child over to a stranger to be smelled. Hopefully my friends won't mind!

I am thankful that marathon training started this week. Remember when I said I now have free weekends just a few sentences ago? I take that back. The next 18 weekends of my life are all scheduled out. I won't know life without Saturday morning long runs after this...granted, I've spent the last 12 weekends completing a long run so I'm already kinda use to it.

I am thankful that I get to go home three times this month! I don't remember the last time I visited home so I'm super pumped to see friends and family. I kinda miss 'em. I am not, however, looking forward to the drive. But I guess that's what I get for moving three hours away.

I am also thankful for: leftover Halloween candy, good running socks, the DVR, and pumpkin scented candles.

Now, what are you thankful for today?

Perfect Fall Day

This:

 {via}

The beautiful, albeit windy, weather...not the goofy weather man

Plus this:

 {via}

Peak of foliage on the Lake Fayetteville Trail

Equals this:

A great 3mi run with an average pace of  9:20. 

Boom! 

Done son. 

Couldn't have asked for a more perfect run!

How did you spend this fall day?