Even Better

I don't know why I've been in such a funk this week :( You would think that with the great weather we have been having, I would be feeling great! However, I did feel pretty good today on my run :) Ran 7 miles, lifted weights and swam a mile and a fourth. Both the run and swim were at a good effort so I'm feeling pretty good about that!! This weekend, I'm planning on two runs at Mohican with the PR training group. It's probably going to be wet and muddy but I'm excited to finely be back on the trails. It' time to hit the long runs on the trails to prepare for MMT!!!

At the Lemke household, things have calmed down a bit for now. Kyle will go back to school on Sunday, Corey is flying back from South Padre Island, TX tomorrow and the youngest is still struggling with the girlfriend break-up but he is coping :( Hopefully the weekend will be a good one!!!!

Better

Running went alittle better for me today :) Ran 6.5 miles, lifted weights and swam a mile and a fourth that included 500 yd pull. I think I'm just feeling sorry for myself!!! One boy with a broken heart, one boy going back to school after spring break and one boy didn't even come home for break makes for a sad mother :(

Good news, my dad is going great!! Mark, Kyle, Keith and myself had dinner with the folks and for now everything is good :)

Actually, looking forward to the weekend of running at MO with all my friends! It's been about 3 weeks since I have been on the trails. It will be so good for the soul!! I hope it doesn't rain because that will equal mud!! See ya on the trails :)

The Last 24 Hrs.

I'll start off first talking about my Dad. Tuesday evening, I got a call from my Mom saying that my Dad had passed out AGAIN while eating at a resturant and they were taking him to the ER. My Dad has a condition in which his heart does not beat fast enough causing not enough blood flow to the brain, causing him to faint. He is on medicines for the condition but it doesn't seem to be working. They kept him in the hospital on Tuesday night and ran a battery of tests. Nothing was found :) No stroke or heart attack, all heart valves and artieries are clear, so for an 80 year old man, he is in great shape! They did find out that the medicine he was taking was to strong and slowing his heart down to much causing the blackouts. Hopefully, the change in medicine will take care of the problem! That's how my Wednesday went, time with my parents in the hospital waiting for test results. Not a problem, I would wait all day with them, I love them very much!!!
After all day at the hospital and bringing my dad home, I get home to find out Keith and his girlfreind, for about a year, had broken up!! Oh, My!! It's hard to deal with a young heart that has been broken. I guess she had been talking with another boy and Keith got mad, said some things he shouldn't have and that was the end of that!! It's really hard to see your kid hurt like that, but I think everybody goes through it at least once in their life time :( A growing and learning experience!! Tonight, was another tough night, but he's a Lemke, he'll get through it! I'm so glad he has some great friends to lean on!!!
As for me, 6 miles, lifted weights and swam a mile. Running has been a real struggle since the weekend of racing. I just don't feel good and it takes alot of effort to get out the door :( Sometimes I wonder if all the effort, pain and time is all worth it! Carry on everyone..........

Green Jewel 50k and Arnold Pump & Run

Saturday March 6, 2010 - I ran the Green Jewel 50 K starting in Rocky River, OH and finished in Brecksville. It was a well organized race, great race directors and volunteers. Thanks to Vince Rucci and Joe Jurczyk for putting on a great race and to all those who volunteered at the aid stations! For me, the race was filled with different emotions. I was excited to run the race but worried about injury due to the fact it was all on pavement. My plan was to run at a steady pace that was comfortable, around 9 minute miles, which I ended up at a 8:45 minute pace. All good, right! NOT!!! From the minute the gun sounded for the start, I knew it was going to be a long day!! I started out very tight and sluggish and was hoping that I would come out of it once I warmed up. That never happened and the longer I ran, the worse I felt! It just wasn't my day, no matter what I did, I never came out of the funk!!! Half way through the race, I had to force myself to keep on going and remind myself that when I start hurting during my 100 mile races, I just have to push through it! I was tired and in pain( some back and leg) and just wanted to give up. Honestly, it was probably the worst race I have ran in a long time. It just didn't click!!! Finished 2nd female and in the top 20 overall with a time of 4:31.

Sunday March 7,2010 - Went down to the Arnold Pump & Run in Columbus. Stiff and sore when I got up in the morning and my right calf muscle was extremely stiff and sore. For the pump, depending on your age, you could bench up to 30 reps and then run a 5k. I knew, I wouldn't do very good in the run after Saturday and the lift is really not a big deal for me since I only have to do something like 40% of my body weight. Once I was up and moving around, I loosened up and felt somewhat normal! LOL I got my 30 reps up and ran a 22 minute 5k. I felt a heck of alot better running on Sunday than Saturday even though I was tired and stiff! I averaged 7:20 minute miles which really surprised me. I haven't check where I finished in the results, maybe top 10?

Monday March 8, 2010 - Day Off!!!!!!!!

Tuesday March 9, 2010 - Ran 6 miles and lifted weights

Feeling Sluggish

Only ran 5 miles this morning and felt sluggish and tired :( Don't really know why? Maybe it was the late workout last night or maybe my body is not use to getting rest! Whatever it is, I sure hope it gets better by Saturday!! You know me, always worried!! I did feel better swimming and swam 1 miles with 350yd pull and 100yd kick. Tomorrow will be a complete day of rest!! YEA!!!!!

Corey leaves for spring break tomorrow and Kyle will be running in the 800m prelims tomorrow night at Dennison College for the NCAC Conference. There are three heats and they take the winner of each heat plus the next six fastest times for the finals on Saturday. Last year, Kyle was the 800m champ for the conference but this year there are a couple of runners from Walbash that can run in the low 1:50's. He'll have to run hard but I think he can do well!!! Makes me so nervous but at least it takes my mind off of my racing :) Good Luck to us all!!!!

Leg Turnover

Wow!! I got to sleep in today! Sleep I did until about 10:00 this morning! It was GREAT!!! Got up and did my lifting and went to the grocery store. This evening, I went up with Keith and the LHS indoor track team to the Wooster indoor track and ran 5.5 miles. I did alittle speed workout with them that consisted of 4 x 600's. Not real fast but enough to make me work! I think it would have been at a little over 7:00 min. mile pace. Just exactly what I needed coming into the weekend of racing!!

My other big thing is my diet. I got to thinking about it after a woman at the Y started talking to me about a vegan diet. Sounded interesting, so I have been going some research and may give it a try. At this point, I can use all the help I can get for my running!! The other thing that I would like to do is to cut out sugar, which may be a hard thing to do!! I'll keep everyone informed on how it's going. So far after one day, pretty good!

A Week Of Tapering :)

This will be a nice low mileage week which should give my body a break from long, hard miles.
Today - 6.1 miles, lifted weights, practicing the bench for the Arnold P&R on Sunday and swam 1 mile.
Yesterday - 7.2 miles, lifted weights and swam 1 mile.
Don't really know what I got myself into, running a 50k on the road but I'll give it a shot. It will probably turn into a training run but that's ok. I just don't want to get injuried. I will then turn around on Sunday and do the Arnold P&R but it may only turn into a run and not the pump! I know I will have to look to the heavens above to help me out!!!