Weekly Report (It's pretty pathetic that I can't think of a new title)

I had a really sick child last week.  It makes it really hard to do exercise when your little one just wants you to sit and hold them and watch movies all day long.   Not that I'm complaining.  He rarely wants me to hold him anymore so it was a joy that I savored.  However, now that I have little one's barking cough and runny nose, there's not so much savoring anymore.  He's almost back to normal and little sis and I are now in the thick of things battling this croupy cough.  Yuck.  Good thing cold's don't last forever.

So, Monday:  full body weights, took out the lunges from last week.

Tuesday:  3 miles on the treadmill doing intervals.

Wednesday:  2 miles outside.  These were supposed to be recovery miles but I felt so good I pushed it the entire time.  Why do I do these stupid things?

Thursday:  4 miles on the treadmill doing 8 minutes of running and 2 minutes recovery.  Felt horrible during the first interval.  Second one was o.k.  Third one I thought I might die.  And the fourth one, well, I quit after 6 minutes.  I just couldn't do it.  Note to self.  Make recovery runs really recovery runs or you will pay for it the next day.  Even my push ups and sit ups were extra hard this day.

Friday: full body weights again.  This was the first day I could feel that darn cold coming on.  I was ignoring it.  It was not going to get me.

Saturday:  a little over 9 miles, slow, outside.  15 degrees when I left.  32 degrees when I got home.  My body felt so strong and good the entire time.  One of the best long runs I've had in a while.  Came home to a quick ice bath, hot shower, stretching, a quick meal, and then off to my next adventure.  

A new class.  A ballet class.  My girls both take ballet from a fabulous teacher.  I don't know how our little town got such an amazing and accomplished ballerina, but I'm glad we did.  We switched dance schools earlier in the fall and it's been a really good thing.  As I was watching the class on Thursday, I marveled at their flexibility and leg strength.  That's what I needed.  I remembered that she taught an adult ballet class so after the class I asked her about it.  I told her that I was thinking about taking it to improve my running.  I need flexibility.  She was really excited and told me that she taught the Wharton stretching technique that was developed for marathon runners and ballet dancers.  I had remembered reading about it before and was really excited.  Now I just needed to know if I had to wear tights and a leotard and if I had to perform in front of anyone.  Since the answer was "no" to both questions, I signed up.  Buying my ballet shoes was pretty fun.  I have to admit that I woke up pretty nervous and excited that morning.  The class was great!  It was an hour and a half of me trying to keep up.  My quads and calves are really sore and my hips were killing me during the workout from all the turn out.  It's working my legs in a whole new way.  I really hope this will be good for me.  It's only every other week so I'm going to have to do some homework.  But I think it will help balance out all those muscles that don't get used running.  And Miss Michelle says she may just join me for a run to work those muscles that she doesn't use during ballet.   

Now I just need to figure out how to not do a long run on the days that I have ballet.  I think it was a bit much.  I didn't refuel as much as I should have, I just didn't have the time.  And so I was hungry all day long and was even up at 2:30 in the morning eating yogurt because I was starving!  I definitely need to plan that better.  It was a good week.  Now if I can quit being sick, this week will shape up to be good as well!