Weekly recap

Last week? Was apparently the week of sucking more. (TWSS)

I did hit all of my miles. After consistently running 11:30-12 min miles for months, my two 5-milers were well under 11. My long run... well.

The first half was perfect. I was comfortably running the pace I'd like to keep for the PCRF half. Then we turned around, and were running into the sun, and I fell apart.

It was a million degrees, no shade, and the sun was relentless. And my pace dropped from 11-min miles to 12-12:30.

It. was. so. hot. and. miserable.

I test-ran my outfit for race day, and it worked, so there's that?

Then yesterday, threw in another 1.15 miles to hit my highest mileage week ever.

I did ZERO cross training. No Suck Less Program. No yoga. Nothing. I was exhausted all week, and just couldn't get it together.

Oh well. Moving on...
Monday: Suck Less Program
Tuesday: 4 mile tempo
Wednesday: Yoga, Suck Less Program
Thursday: 4 miles speed work
Friday: Suck Less Program
Saturday: 6 miles (Hellooooo, taper!)
Sunday: rest

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Anyway, like all of you, I'm watching the Boston Marathon today... This Desiree chick is killing it.

Photo Friday

Hey, did you enter my giveaway? Click HERE! Knee socks, pink things, and candy! YUM!

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I tried really hard to get a picture of this, but I just couldn't, so I drew it instead. I got out of the shower a few weeks ago, and saw this in the steam on the mirror: I assumed #1 did it, because it was kind of high. #2 couldn't reach that high. So, because I'm very, very funny, I wrote this back....

See?! Funny!

Then, #1 comes out after a shower.

And looks like this....

All... "What is happening in the mirror?"

Right. Because she didn't write any of that.

The H did.

And now she thinks we're total weirdos.

I can't imagine why.

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Today? I am grateful.

When Gabby was transferred from the ER to the children's hospital, they marked on the transfer form as the reason for transfer, as "At Risk for Death". My heart sunk. I didn't know what was going on, but I couldn't imagine anything worse than her being at risk.

And when we got her diagnosis, it was breath-taking. Awful. But it's always been balanced, even when things are tough, by knowing that she's HERE.

A good friend of mine lost her son earlier this week, unexpectedly.

Hug your kids. Hug your SO's. Hug your friends. Be grateful.

Three Things Thursday

1. I am a moron. I think, that I think if I *will* it to be warm and spring-like, that it suddenly will be. Which is how I end up walking out of my house in a tank top and skirt and sandals, and it's 50*. Dumb.

2. I do look cute and springy, though. And I love my shoes.

3. Gabby's chemo Monday seems to have been pretty rough on her this week. :(

Gald I didn't book that spring break trip.

Wordless Wednesday

I got home last night to these...

Gabby made hearts. For everyone. She requested I bring mine in my pocket on my run.

How do you turn that down? (I didn't, but I did hide it and picked it up when I got back.)

What's the BEST part of Wedensday?

It's GIVEAWAY Time!

A few of my favorite things...

Yes, in fact, I *did* troll Target and grab all the pink things I could fit in my arms.

Here's how to enter... 4 choices!

1. *Mandatory* Be a follower, and comment to let me know! (1 entry)

2. Make a donation to PCRF, HERE. Any amount - $1, $5, whatever. Every dollar you donate goes to end pediatric cancers. Tax deductable, too. Comment to let me know! (1 entry)

3. Are you a tweeter?! Tweet the word, and be sure to include @hmgiraffy in your tweet. Leave a comment to let me know! (1 entry)

4. Share via facebook, your blog, whatever. Leave a comment to let me know! (1 entry)

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Rules:

All comments must be recieved by midnight, PST, on Friday, April 22nd. Winner will be announced by Monday the 25th, or over the weekend if I'm feeling fiesty.

PLEASE leave one comment for each entry. I know it's a PITA, but I've made it easy and don't have any security words or anything to hold you up. Plus, I'd really hate to miss any entries that were lumped into one comment. It's for your own benefit, I promise. :D

Disclaimer, I get absolutely NOTHING out of the donations, all donations are made through PCRF's fundraising portal. I've earned enough in donations to cover my registration to the half marathon, but every bit of it goes directly to them. And all that stuff was purchased by me, or was stuff I already owned (the Body Butter, Scrub, and Lip Gloss, specifically).

That's it!

Good luck, ya'll. Donate, donate, donate!!

April Suck Less Challenge, week 2

What's the Suck Less Challenge? Link HERE!

Check-in time!

Hit all of my scheduled days last week! How'd you do?

For some perspective, these are 6 week programs, and I've been doing them for 5 weeks now. However, because I *STILL* have crapola's worth of core and upper body strength, I just completed week 4 of sit ups and push ups. I've repeated a few weeks.

And that's totally cool! That's the best thing about this program, for me, is that it's super flexible. I like flexible.

Anyway, I was on week 4 for sit ups and push ups, and week 5 for squats, so I was scheduled for an exhaustion test this weekend, in all three.

Results: 51 sit ups 33 push ups 200 squats!!!!

Woot!

So, I get to move on to week 5 for sit ups and push ups (woo hoo?). Squats, I'm going to continue to do with The H (he's on week 6 now), but adding some small hand weights. Adventure is my middle name.

And, check this out! They've added a One Fifty Dips workout to the party!

My initial test for these puppies was a sad, lonely little 4. Ouch. So, I'll be adding these to the mix.

Can't wait to see how you all did! Have a great week!

Monday should learn to be better

Last Week Recap...
Hit all of my scheduled miles (17).
Swapped out hills for speed work and it was SO FUN.
3 days of the Suck Less Program
Here's a shocker... I WENT TO YOGA!! It's a Mind/Body for Runners class for the PCRF VIP (ie, Fundraiser) team at a local 24 Hour, at 6am Wednesday. It's really a great class. It's just so freaking early. But I did it. Finally.

The Good
My Thursday Run was SO AWESOME. I posted about this last week, but I'm still stoked about it.
The yoga class felt GOOD. My hamstrings have been tight, and they were TIRED after this.
I know Adidas isn't a big player in the running world, but they are one of the sponsors for PCRF's VIP team, and they've hooked us up with some shoes once we hit a certain fundraising goal. I've been wearing them for my shorter runs during the week, and... so far I love them. Plus, it's an excellent compiment to a grey running skirt I picked up for cheap a few weeks ago.
I've COMPLETED THE SQUATS CHALLENGE! Last night was exhaustion test night, and I did all 200 squats. Done! Next up: Adding hand weights. Hm.
#2 beat The H in Rock Band or something. More than once. She's a pro.

And, I'm a baker genius. Mint Chocolate Cupcakes. These were seriously maybe the BEST cupcake I've ever had, ever.

Obviously decorating is not my strong suit, but... at least they TASTE good.

The Bad
My Tuesday run was pretty crap-tastic, for no real reason. Just.. bleh.
My Long Run sucked hard. It was 40* when I was getting ready, and overcast, so I dressed for that. By the time I was about 3 miles in, it was BLAZING SUN and 55*. I was sweating. A lot. And by 7 miles, it was overcast and breezy again, and now I'm sweaty, wet, and COLD. Eff you, weather.
My pace was also too fast. I was about 50 sec faster than my long run pace should have been. That included a 5 minute break to walk slowly and text The H about how stupid and miserable it was. I just wanted to be DONE.
The training run goes directly past my house. I can literally see where I live, and it took everything in me not to just walk home.

What's on tap for this week?
Monday: Suck Less Program
Tuesday: 5 mile tempo
Wednesday: Yoga (maybe?), Suck Less Program
Thursday: 5 mile hills
Friday: Suck Less Program
Saturday: 10 miles sloooow

So, this is the thing about running.

I don't think it EVER gets easy.

I think, as a runner, your willingness to be uncomfortable and your pain threshold, they just increase. I know, because I'm practically an expert. I mean. I've been running for 6 months now.

Yes, in fact, I DID have a tough long run today. Why do you ask?

Bleh.

Giveaway next week, btw. I'm still fundraising for Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation. Link is on my sidebar. I'm less than $175 away from my goal of $2000!

Happy weekend.