Weekly Training Review: Mar 21 - Mar 27

3/21/11
P.M. 5.5 Miles
Ran around the golf course.

3/22/11
A.M. 4.6 Miles

3/23/11
P.M. 5.5 Miles
Around the golf course

3/24/11
A.M. 5.5 Miles
Around the golf course

3/25/11
A.M. 9.6 Miles
Twice around the golf course

P.M. 5.5 Miles
Rround the golf course

Late p.M. Gym - 1 hour
Weights, rowing and arm bike

3/26/11
A.M. 11.9 Miles
Headed out to Hidden Mesa. Decent day, but I wasn't feeling the run. Did three loops of the plateau and then headed down. I was shooting for 14 miles today, but just wasn't feeling it.

P.M. Bike 16.6 Miles
Rode over to my sisters place.

3/27/11
Early P.M. 9.7 Miles
I got new shoes yesterday. A pair I have been waiting to get for about six months now, the New Balance Minimus shoes. They are very similar to the Vibram shoes, with a little more support. This run was the first I got to use them. I could definitely tell a difference from my New Balance 860's, but the strain wasn't there as much as I thought it was going to be. They were surprising comfortable and provided just enough protection and support. I'm so excited to be using them.

Here is a photo the exact shoe I got.


I also picked up the Nike Free about a month or so ago. I love them as everyday shoes and as strength and speed training shoes, but as distance shoes, they just don't feel like they would do the job at this point. I do love the shoes, but I think I'll keep to my Minimus and New Balance 860's for my distance runs.

Here's a pic of my NF's.


P.M. 3.9 Miles
Went for a run with Elias and Jenny.

P.M. Bike 11 Miles

Overall a pretty decent week. I did reach my running goal of 60 miles this week and actually got some decent biking in. I am starting to really like biking, it's a lot more fun than I thought it was going to be. I am starting to come down with something as my voice is shot and my throat has been hurting the last two days. Hopefully I can get over it quickly.

TOTALS:
Run Week: 61.7 miles
Run YTD: 438.7 miles
Bike YTD: 32.2 miles
Swim YTD: 1 miles (A starting point, I haven't kept track, but I think it is at least a mile so far)

Jenny YTD: 36.6 miles
Elias YTD: 28.3 miles

Weekly Training Review: Mar 14 - Mar 20

3/14/11
P.M. 5 Miles
My goal this week was to run every day. My work schedule is still pretty busy, but I'm going to do my best to make time.

3/15/11
A.M. 5 Miles

P.M. 5 Miles
Same two routes today.

3/16/11
P.M. 5 Miles
Same route again.

3/17/11
Nothing
My plan was to run today. I had a really busy day at work and came home and crashed. I fell asleep on the couch from 8:30 pm till 11:30 pm. It's been a long time since I've done that

3/18/11
P.M. 5 Miles
Same route as earlier this week. Also, my indoor coed soccer team played for the championship tonight. It was a hellish game and I forgot to bring my shin guards. Needless to say, I walked away with a couple of bruised shins. We were down by three going into halftime and came back with five minutes left to go in the game. We ended with a tie and went into a penalty kick shootout. We lost, but we all agreed it was a great game. I was pretty wasted after that game, it was quite the workout.

3/19/11
P.M. 8.5 Miles
Ran around the golf course and then met up with Jenny to do a couple laps around the neighborhood. It was very windy and we had Elias in the push stroller. Not much fun.

3/20/11
P.M. 10.9 Miles
I actually had a pretty good run today. I think I could have kept going for a quite a while, but had to get home to help around the house.

I ordered a tri bike a couple of weeks ago and it finally came in. It is a Specialized Transition Elite. A great starter bike, but far from the really nice bikes. It's really all I need for now.



I had gotten my bike before my run this morning and my plan was to not ride it today. But after my run, I couldn't hold out so I took it for a spin.

P.M. Bike - 4.6 Miles
It was pretty tough getting used to being clipped into my pedals. I thought for sure I was going to take a tumble trying to get on and off the bike, but I figured it out pretty quickly. The one thing I know I will find difficult it transitioning into the tuck position. The bike is very touchy and with the wind around the golf course, I had to pull out of the tuck position several times. But overall, it was a phenomenal first ride. A very quick bike.

The week ended up not as good as I wanted it to be. My goal was 60 miles this week, but obviously I fell short. But I do feel getting out there everyday will make a good impact in the long run.

TOTAL:
Run Week: 44.4 miles
Run YTD: 377 miles
Bike YTD: 4.6 miles
Swim YTD: 1 miles (A starting point, I haven't kept track, but I think it is at least a mile so far)

Jenny YTD: 28.6 miles
Elias YTD: 24.8 miles

Made!

Usually this time of year is a bit boring for me with Aaron spending most nights and weekends at the soccer field. That, combined with his training for the 50 mile run in May and Ironman this fall has left Elias and I with many nights at home. We can only oogle at one another so long, but alas! My mom bolted out of town a few weeks ago, leaving Elias with a regretful goodbye and me with her sewing machine.

I decided to try my hand at a few things. First on my list was recycling. Aaron has lost about 30 pounds since we first met, leaving him with shirt after shirt that causes his body to look like that of a malnourished holocaust victim. I took a few of his old shirts and turned them into pants for Elias. I cut the pant legs out of the side of his shirts, like this:



The first pair looked like a skirt for an Amish baby girl, unacceptable for Elias, and unacceptable to post photos of. These were the second pair, much better, but a little tight and a little short:



This pair will be sported at a game or two of Aaron's this Spring:



And these will be for our trip to watch the Thundering Herd:



Just kidding. We're not making any trips to watch the Thundering Herd. These ones have turned out the best so far, in my opinion. Elias seems to like them, too. They were actually made from a pair of Aaron's old shorts.



I was VERY pleased with how these ones turned out, so a celebration ensued with Elias, a lime, Svedka and I. Aaron joined in when he came home from work at 4.



This final pair will be used for camping this summer. Aaron put them on Elias last Sunday, then took him outside for a bit. Upon meeting a new neighbor, Aaron explained that 'We don't usually dress our baby in beer pants, my wife has just been into sewing lately'. 'Nuff said.





Fear not. The Nagel household needs more things than recycled pants. We also need crinkle taggie toys. Someone had given this to us as a shower gift.



To this day, we are clueless as to what it's intended purpose was. I combined it with the packaging of E's wipes, to serve as the crinkle, to create this:



Elias LOVES crinkle taggie toys, as seen here:



I made a few things for myself on Friday. First was a headband, made out of scrap fabric braided together, then sewed onto elastic. I love it and have taken it off only to shower in the last 48 hours.





I also made myself a bracelet, starting with these materials, costing about $3 at the fabric store:



And turning them into this:



Ignore the yarn, that's from a Red Tent Event I attended a bit ago. My most recent project was for a friend's new baby girl, two week old Rory Elise. I made her this plush taggie toy, it's about 6 inches in diameter:



I stitched her name into one of the ribbons in hopes of preventing her older sister from unrightfully claiming it:





I made this little thing for Elias with the scrap fabrics. Matt and Rita gave us an Aminal for Christmas, and I love the idea of toys looking like a child created them, hence the sloppy stitching.



That's all for now. Aaron has plenty more busy nights and weekends ahead of him, so hopefully I'll have more time to work on things. After all, when this is your view from behind the sewing machine, who wouldn't want to sew?

Weekly Training Review: Mar 7 - Mar 13

3/7/11
Nothing
Had outdoor soccer training.

3/8/11
Nope
Had indoor soccer training this evening.

3/9/11
Nothing
Had outdoor soccer training.

3/10/11
Nada
Outdoor soccer training tonight.

3/11/11
A.M. 9.8 Miles
Ran around the golf course.

P.M. Gym - 1.5 Hours
Weights, arm bike, eliptical, rowing machine

3/12/11
A.M. 9.8 Miles
Same route as yesterday.

P.M. Gym - 1.5 Hours
Eliptical, rowing machine and swam about .5 mile

3/13/11
P.M. Gym - 2 Hours
Eliptical, bike, arm bike, rowed and stair climber.

Just a horrible week. Once you take a day off, it can be very difficult to get back on track. Twenty miles in a week is not what I should succumb to. I really need to be upwards of 60 - 70 at this point and then pushing up to 80 or 90 the month leading up to CPTR.

TOTAL:
Week: 19.6 miles
YTD: 332.6 miles

Jenny YTD: 21.1 miles
Elias YTD: 22.3 miles

Weekly Training Review: Feb 28 - Mar 6

2/28/11
A.M. 9.9 Miles
I had soccer training tonight and a parents meeting at the office.

3/1/11
A.M. Gym - 1.3 Hours
Got in some good weights and bike.

P.M. Gym - 0.6 Hours
Had some extra time after work, before soccer practice. Did some rowing and arm biking.

3/2/11
Nothing
Had soccer training tonight.

3/3/11
A.M. 8.9 Miles
Ran around the golf course this morning. Decent run, but I was pretty tired.

3/4/11
P.M. Gym - 1.7 Hours
Had some time to get to the gym tonight. Did a little strength training, rowing, biking and then ended with a pretty good swim of .25 - .5 miles.

3/5/11
Early A.M. 13 Miles
I had big plans for this morning. I wanted to do a 20 - 26 mile run. I headed out to Bear Creek Park, the place of my 50K. I thought I would be able to remember the route I ran, but it turned out I made several wrong turns. The morning was nice.

Here is a photo from the top of Mt. Carbon. You could see downtown Denver clear as day.



I had three river crossings to get across and I thought since it was still early season, the water would be low. But nope, it was just as high as it was last October. So I had to find a log upstream to get across.



Here is a picture of one of the three river crossing I had to get across. Only one crossing had any fallen branches to hop across. Otherwise I was hoping across rocks that were 1" - 2" above water and very scarce. My shoes did get quite wet.



Heading across some plains, I came across a herd of some deer. There were about 10 - 15 and they just watched as I slowly ran by.



It was a great day to run, but unfortunately as I was coming up on mile 13, I had severe stomach cramping to the point where I had to stop running and sit down. I wanted to try to finish with a 10K or another 13 mile lap, but knew I couldn't do it with the pain in my stomach.

3/6/11
P.M. 7.9 Miles
Ran around the neighborhood.

I've learned the hard way that if I take a day off, it is hard to get back into the routine the next day. It is so easy to let a day pass by and call it a recovery or rest day. If only I had a little more time each day.

TOTAL:
Week: 39.7 miles
YTD: 313 miles

Jenny YTD: 14.1 miles
Elias YTD: 20.3 miles

Weekly Training Review: Feb 21 - Feb 27

2/21/11
Nothing
Had indoor soccer training this pm.

2/22/11
A.M. 8.8 Miles
Ran the golf course.

2/23/11
P.M. Gym - 1.4 Hours

P.M. 6.4 Miles
Headed out to Hidden Mesa right after work. The wind was strong so I cut the run short.

Late P.M. 4.5 Miles
I didn't feel like my run earlier went too well, so I started another around 8:00 pm. Ran around the neighborhood.

2/24/11
A.M. 10.8 Miles
Had a pretty decent run around the golf course this morning. I'm hoping for another run this evening.

P.M. 4.5 Miles
So I did end up getting a run in tonight. Thanks Jenny. Nice easy run around the neighborhood.

2/25/11
A.M. 13.1 Miles
Ran around the golf course. I really struggled this morning, it was not a good run.

P.M. 4.5 Miles
Dropped the car off for an oil change and decided to run home.

Had a pretty fierce soccer game late tonight. I am pretty sore, so hopefully I can get in some decent runs tomorrow.

2/26/11
Early A.M. 4.8 Miles
Ran around the golf course.

Late A.M. 4.8 Miles
Ran around the golf course.

Early P.M. 4.8 Miles
Ran around the golf course.

Late P.M. 4.6 Miles
Ran around the neighborhood.

19 total miles today. The wind was heavy so at times it wasn't too enjoyable, but a good day overall.

2/27/11
Early A.M. 4.8 Miles
Ran the golf course. Pretty decent morning, but my left calf is starting to cramp.

Late A.M. 4.7 Miles
Ran the golf course again. My left calf is definitely starting to cramp pretty bad. My time was pretty slow, but I was also pushing E in his stroller. Hopefully I can push through the calf pain and finish the day strong.

Early P.M. 5.4 Miles
Ran around the neighborhood. Found some long stretches of grass which definitely helped with my calf. One more run yet today, then done for the week.

Late P.M. 6.8 Miles
I went out only thinking I was going to do 3.5 miles. The pain in my calf was pretty rough and I was pretty tired. But once outside, I smelled the fresh night air and I was gone. My stride was pretty good and the pain wasn't so bad.

TOTAL:
Week: 93.5 miles
YTD: 273.3 miles

Jenny YTD: 8.6 miles
Elias YTD: 16.8 miles

Weekly Training Review: Feb 14 - Feb 20

2/14/11
Nothing

2/15/11
A.M. 8.8 Miles
Ran the golf course. Supposed to be 65 degrees today.

P.M. 3 Miles
Went for a run with Jenny and Elias after work. Jenny and Elias ran about 2.3 miles.

P.M. Gym 1.2 Hours

2/16/11
P.M. 12.2 Miles
Today the weather got into the 60s and it was pretty nice out. Started my run about 7 p.m. and it started to get pretty windy. I think the last 3-4 miles were in 20 - 30 mph winds.
P.M. Gym - 30 Minutes
Passed the gym on my way home from the run and decided to stop in and do a quick workout.

2/17/11
P.M. 9.8 Miles

2/18/11
P.M. 11.2
Came home from work and got a decent run in quick. We headed up to Boulder to see Christopher McDougal, Scott Jurek and Tony Krupicka. Pretty good day.

2/19/11
A.M. 14 miles
Headed out to Hidden Mesa this morning. Did the 7 mile loop and then decided to do it again. I actually had some gels and water this morning which definitely helped on the second leg.

2/20/11
A.M. 7 Miles
Again, headed out to Hidden Mesa. I really can't get enough of that trail, it is quite unique.

P.M. 4.5 Miles
Finished Sunday with a nice easy jog around the neighborhood.

TOTAL:
Week: 70.5 miles
YTD: 179.8 miles

Jenny YTD: 6.1 miles
Elias YTD: 12.1 miles