My Week in Review & February Break!

I haven't been sharing my  training lately.  I've actually decided to reboot how I track my training. I am no longer on Daily Mile - for many reasons and now I track my running/workouts with Running Log on my iPhone.  

Also, in terms of training, I am copying Carrie.   She wrote about using the Runner's World Smart Coach in a recent blog, so of course I had to check it out.  My goal race is at the end of June, which is 19 weeks out.  Smart Coach is incredibly easy and it's free.  Plus, with my crazy work schedules, I needed to focus on a plan with lower mileage.  So far, I'm sticking to it.  And even better, I'm liking it!

Here's my week: 

Sunday - 10 treadmill miles.  

I bought these CWX PerformX compression tights at the grand opening of the Rail Trail Shop - which was a hit.  I didn't wear them on the treadmill, but I did wear them ALL.DAY.LONG - and they felt fantastic.  And they looked hot.  

Monday - 3.5 miles.

I should mention, all of my running was done in these babies pictured above.  Not very attractive.  But freaking amazing!  More on this later this week.   I also ran in my new CWX tights.  Amazing.  Everything pictured above can be purchased at the Rail Trail Run Shop - just in case you want to come by and see me!   

Tuesday - 4 miles & Yogalates.  

I finally made it my friend, Kristy's yogalates class.  Actually, last week I went with my sister-in-law, Jill.  This week Jill had other plans, so I went alone.  I freaking love Kristy.  So has so much energy and really motivates you to challenge yourself.  I really like yogalates.  It's a little more upbeat than yoga - and has a section focused on pilates.  A perfect combination for me.  And her classes are freaking packed!  This girl is popular!

Wednesday - 5 miles.  Speed day!  

I'm back at square one with speed.  I'm completely okay with this.  I'd rather NOT injure myself again.  Training smarter this time.  Going into this, I wasn't so sure I had any speed in me.  I've been on the sick side for over a week and my asthma hasn't been happy.  BUT, I completely pulled it off.  And felt freaking fantastic afterwards!  PS - Pepper only did the warm-up and cool-down with me.  I don't want to push it with her either.  I'd like to have a running buddy with her for a few more years!

Thursday - rest.  

Thank goodness!  Still got in my burpees though!  Oh and Maine got hammered with snow.  

I'm still in the 1000 #ffburpee challenge.  I started out at 37 a day - because the challenge will end on my 37th birthday.  But, I skipped a day and when I was playing catch up, I hit 505...so then I decided I was going to do 50.   

I was curious what 50 burpees looked like with my Armour 39 Heart Rate Monitor, so I strapped it to me and when for it.  I loved seeing the heart rate!!!   But come on, 19 calories?  

By the way....as of tonight - my new #ffburpee total is 700!  

Friday - 2 snowshoe running miles.

Saturday - 2 miles snowshoe running miles + 18 miles on indoor bike.   

Sunday - today - 13 miles!  On the treadmill.  

I had won a Fitbit earlier in the week (here).  It came in the mail on Saturday, so I've spent some time playing with my new device.  Today my experiment was the treadmill.  I knew my new Fitbit wasn't going to be 100% accurate on the treadmill.   But I had to compare.  Note, I had 0.43 miles logged on the Fitbit before I started running.  

Since I have the iPhone 4, the Fitbit app isn't compatible.  However, it's completely compatible with my laptop.  It's 7:30 pm and here's my daily progress so far.  I haven't done my burpees yet.    

This week is February break.  Which is fabulous!  The kids and I have nothing planned.  We're going to just focus on having fun and relaxing - so we can all kick these colds.  

The only real plans I have right now are: 

Tomorrow night I have my birthday dinner with the girls - what a great way to kick off February break week!  

Then Wednesday I have an appointment with an Allergy and Asthma Specialist.  Since this past summer I've been struggling with my asthma.  Meaning it has come back.  It basically disappeared while I was pregnant with Izzy and it re-emerged this summer and doesn't seem to be getting better.  I wasn't going to see a specialist but then I started getting some kind of allergy attacks, randomly, since August after I run.  The first few times it happened, I chalked it up as ragweed, since it happened at the peak of ragweed season.  But then when things started freezing, it continued.  Still random.  Then it happened a few times after running on the treadmill.  There is no rhyme or reason as to when it's going to happen.  And I'm confused.  I'm scared.  I'm nervous.   What's happening?  Warning.  This is rather weird looking.  

This is happening.  Within a few minutes after I finish running, my eyes will start to feel funny.  Then my left eye starts to swell underneath and my right eyelid will swell (above the eye).  I look like a freak and nothing gets rid of the swelling.   I've tried washing my face with cold water, using eye wash, using allergy drops, Benadryl, ice packs, nothing.  I get feverish and then I start feeling my chest close up.  The swelling usually stays overnight and lasts about 24 hours.  Which means the next day I'm wearing my glasses.  That I never ever wear.  They are actually not even appropriate for me anymore but I'm not going in public or to school looking like that - so I cover them up as best I can.  

Lovely.  

I spoke to my regular doctor about this during the fall, and since he's a jerk, he told me to stop running.  Um. No.  So I quit seeing him and found a new doctor in another office.  But I had to wait until the beginning of January to see her.  I explained everything that had happened to me and she referred me to see an allergist.  Oh thank goodness!  She suggested a possible food allergy.  Not the end of the world.  Something I can handle.  I cannot wait to see the allergist on Wednesday.  Hopefully I can get answers relatively soon.  

In the meantime I've reduced my mileage - I didn't quit running - and I'm finding other ways to be fit. I've also taken antihistamines prior to running.  So far taking them has worked - except for one time.  And maybe I didn't give them long enough to work before I ran.  I'm not sure.  

Back to the positives - I hate dwelling on the negative.  Break...oh yes.  I'm so excited for break!   

How's your training going?  Any snow where you are?  Are you counting down the days until Spring yet?