Monday miles

My running buddy. Seems appropriate.

Slowest pace of the week

14:22/mile

Fastest pace of the week

12:43/mile

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Miles last week

16.5

Miles in 2016

384.35

Change of Heart

Two weeks ago I wrote about tracking my heart rate with a Polar H7 and my Apple Watch. The combination was perfect…until I ran into a snafu. A big one!

I couldn't run with my BRF Amy if we both tracked our heart rate with a Polar H7 strap. Big. Problem.

For some reason, when we'd try to run together, even though both of our straps had been paired, once we "paired" up to start running, the watches would lose their connections. Ugh. We tried running on other sides, putting watches on opposite arms, nothing worked. Out came my Garmin Forerunner 110 and its heart rate strap.

Turns out I kind of missed my old friend Garmin. It still does a great job of tracking distance and pace, but best of all it keep its connection with the Garmin heart rate strap while I'm running with Amy. And that…is very important!

Week 2 Recap

New shoes. Ugly…but half price!

Two weeks and four day of heart rate training. So far, so good.

Notes for the week:

1. I'm starting to know when my heart rate is too high without glancing at my watch. This is good. It's still really, really challenging to run at such an "easy" pace. But…I'm still really enjoying it!

2. Keeping it "easy" means I can get out first thing in the morning – before breakfast or coffee. I've never been able to do that before. Feels good.

The numbers: Easy Effort 30 minutes last week were at a 12:31. This week, my second 30 minute run was a 11:35. Smokin'! :)

Monday miles

Girls on the Run with Ellie
(Favorite company of the week!)

Slowest pace of the week

14:02/mile

Fastest pace of the week

11:35/mile

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Miles last week

19.7

Miles in 2016

367.85

Audio books = mind candy

I've been a fan of the audio book since the days when I'd run with a fanny pack and 2-3 cassette tapes from the library. Back then the book would be recorded on enough tapes that the case they came in was the size of an encyclopedia. (Do people use encyclopedias anymore?) I eventually switched from my walkman to my discman, and fortunately for me, so did the library as their cassette tape collection was slowly replaced by compact discs.

Since the introduction of the iPod and MP3, I've been able to ditch the fanny pack and carry an entire book on one, small little device. Once my iPod Shuffle, now my iPhone. Audio books are also the perfect way to keep your mind busy during long runs. Audio books are my mind candy and Audible my candy store.

Last year, during marathon training, I actually listened to an entire book on a solo 18-miler. Music is great, and has a big place in my life, but a book keeps your mind from wandering around mile 12, reminding you that you still have six long miles to go.…

I've always saved books for my longer runs, but the past two weeks I've been listening to The Beekeeper's Apprentice on these shorter HRT runs. It's hard enough to keep my heart rate and pace down, I don't need to bring inspiring music into the mix. Enter the audio book. Keeps you entertained, no pep in your step. (Unless you're listening to Born to Run, then all bets are off.)

Week 1 Recap

Even my dad's cows are questioning my pace

My first full week of heart rate training is behind me and I'm three runs into week two.

Notes for the week:

1. Forget about the ego. (This is so hard!) I keep reminding myself that no one but me cares about my pace. Plus…even I'm not supposed to care about my pace right now. This is proving to be very difficult. Sunday afternoon I ran past my brother's house. My sister-in-law and nephew were outside. "Hi Aunt Lisa!" yelled my nephew. Instead of smiling and yelling "Hello!" back, I pulled my earbuds out and yelled "I'm running this slow on purpose!" They both just waved. (And maybe looked at me like I'd lost my mind.) Ok…why couldn't I simply smile and say hello back, why did I have to justify my walk breaks? Well, because telling the girl that's been running for 8 years to stop thinking about the old rules and trust the new ones is freaking challenging. I guarantee that the people (and cows) that I pass have no opinion on my pace. None.

2. On a happier note, running slow is giving me time to enjoy the scenery. I've been running the same roads for almost nine years. That means running past the same houses, greeting the same dogs, seeing the same neighbors out in their same yards. Slowing everything down has made things feel new again. I feel as though instead of focusing on how hard I'm breathing or how much farther I have to run, I'm honestly looking around at my surroundings and taking the time to really appreciate where I live. Sure, it helps that mother nature has been kind enough to finally let some sunshine poke through the clouds, but it's more than that. These miles have been mind-clearing.

The numbers: Comparing apples to apples…my Easy Effort 30 minutes last week were at a 13:07. This week they were at a 12:31. Baby steps, but a tiny bit faster! (Oh…wait…I'm not supposed to care about my pace. I need to put that on a sticky note somewhere to remind myself!)

Monday miles

Pace is slow, but enjoying the scenery!

Slowest pace of the week

16:35/mile

Fastest pace of the week

12:31/mile

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Miles last week

19.4

Miles in 2016

348.15