April 2016 Workouts

April was finally here, time for the Half Marathon!! I started off the month strong with a half, but slowly transitioned into more lifting workouts and spin class. Check out my workouts:

April 2nd: Rise and Shine Half Marathon *separate post*

April 5th: Today I ran outside and did 2.50 miles in 22:42 with a pace of 9:05. then i did a HIIT for 9:21.

April 11th: Today was spin class day! I have not done s spin class in about a year! The class was 46:05 long and I did great! My bottom didn't even hurt when I got done :) My heart rate was a 117 average and I even peaked at 161!

April 13th: Today the goal was to run for 12 minutes, I ran on the treadmill and got to a distance of 1.35, that is a pace of 8:54. then I did a HIIT for 12:55.

April 18th: Today was another spin class Monday! The class was 47:07 long and I averaged a heart rate of 109 and peaked at 149. This tells me I didn't work as hard as I could have...

April 20th: Today I ran and did HIIT workouts, a total of 1.69 miles in 27:11 outside. I ran around the track and would stop after each lap to do HIIT workouts. This could be like a Spartan training day, so a pace of 16:05 is pretty darn good!

April 22nd: Today I ran 2.12 miles in 18:44, a pace of 8:51 around campus. Then I did a HIIT workout for 11:08. 

April 25th: Today was the last spin class of April. The class was 42:05 long and my heart rate was an average of 105 with a peak of 145. Either my heart is getting more efficient, or I'm not working hard enough!

April 27th: Today's goal was a quick warm up run and then a good HIIT. We ran around the track 0.50 miles in 3:58 and then did a 12:16 true HIIT. 

This was seemingly it for April. While it doesn't seem like much, I am still on track and doing good with my lifestyle change. Check out my continued progress:

I still have the abs, and my back is staying slimmed up! I will continue to eat right and workout! Here's to the next workout! Until then...

April 

Rise and Shine Half Marathon

Today was the day. The day I have been training for for the past few months! I was ready to do this, ready to beat my time from last year, ready to be a better runner, ready to show me that I was better than...well, me! The morning was cool, but not terrible. I made sure to stretch really good and even participated in the warm-up that the race members offered. 

Last year, 2015 I ran this race and it took me 2:32:18 with a pace of 11:37. I walked for the first time at 8.36 miles and then a gain at 10.10 miles. I was really tired during the 11.5 to 13.28 mile marks. It really bothered me that the race was longer than it should have been! However, based on previous performances I did run faster and kept a decent pace. I faltered in the last 2 miles where I sort of gave up. I really needed that 12 mile run. You can view my splits and my route here. My splits were pretty good, my first 3 miles were in 29:47, right on track for me. I didn't run slower than in the 10 minutes until mile 6, in the 12 minutes by mile 9, and in the 13 minutes mile 12 and 13.

This year, 2016 I was nervous. I only did 11 miles on a long run and still had to do that 2.1 (or 2.3) mile run after that. I ran 13.21 miles in 2:08:49 with a pace of 9:45!! You can view my splits and my route here. It is the same route :) WOW, my first 3 miles were in 26:04 and all in the 8 minutes zone. Miles 4 through 8 were in the 9 minutes zone, miles 9-11 were in the 10 minute zone, mile 12 ONLY was 11:20, then for mile 13 I dropped back down to the 10 minute zone! While I was running I began to realize that my 2:30:00 goal would definitely be beat, and the longer I ran I realized that my 2:15:00 (secondary goal) was very much attainable. 

My 11 mile run last year was 2 hours and 2 minutes, my 11 mile practice run this year was 1:54:32, my 11 mile run during the race was 1:44:45! It was then that I knew even if I walked the last 2.21 miles that I WOULD beat my 2:15:00 goal! The next question was, by how much? I really lost speed in mile 12, but I reminded myself that I did not walk until I was at 10.20 miles. That was my longest consistent, no walk, run ever! I could do this! I gathered myself come mile 13 and pushed as hard as I thought I could. I finished the race in 2:08:50 (official time) and came in 8th in my age group, 42 in female runners, and 99th overall! To say i am proud would be an understatement. It made me realize that running this under 2 hours is actually doable for me! And will be my goal next year. I beat that girl from last year (ME) by 23:28...WOW...I am still amazed at myself! Here I am after I got both of my medals, one from the race and one homemade from the children of the Arc :). Here I am below during the beginning of the race and then about mid-way.

Here I am at the end of the race. I was tired, but not terrible. I love my medals and my time still amazes me!

 

Remember to never give up and to always believe you can do it! Here's to the next work out! Until then...

April