Training Tuesday: New Shoes, New Socks and a PR!

June 30, 2015June 30, 2015 / Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 1 Comment

It’s been too long since I’ve written a Training Tuesday post, huh? You’re probably all wondering if I fell off the face of the running earth. Have I stopped running? Have I taken up another sport? Am I injured?

Thank goodness the answer is no, no and no (fingers crossed). In fact, I’ve still been running – I’ve just been bad about sharing my weekly updates (though if you read this blog you’ve seen me mention it on occasion anyway). Here are a few running updates:

I have new shoes! While I’m always a fan of Sauconys, I have my first pair of Mizunos! I have the new Mizuno Enigma Wave 5s (got them for reviewing purposes from Fitfluential!) and they’re SO soft. They’re a cushion shoe, which I love wearing, and have been enjoying them on long and short runs.

doing running drills with my new Mizunos

I’ve signed up for a new race! Finally, right? I’m signed up for the Rock Hall Half Marathon in August. It’s the first time the race is in town and I’m excited for a brand new race and new course!
I’m apparently on week five of training for the race … whoops! Good thing I’ve been doing 6-8 mile runs on the weekends. Last Friday, Nicole and I ran 8 miles before work and discovered a new path in the flats with a great view.
I’m streaking! Hehe. What I mean to say is that I am participating in the Runners World Running Streak. You have to run daily between Memorial Day and Fourth of July. Only 4 more days and I’ll be complete!
I’m continuing to do speed training. I’ve only done two speed workouts since the Cleveland Half Marathon (one tempo run and one interval run … and have another interval run planned for today), but I have been seeing it work. I’m getting faster and that means …
I got my first sub-25 minute 5k!!!! Again, finally, right?! This has been a goal of mine for a year, but last year my main goal was a sub-2 hour half marathon. Now that I’ve crushed that, I was able to focus on the 5k and speed runs. I’m so happy 🙂

My race time! Proof! (and see who #1 is? Fellow Cle Marathon Ambassador Jess!)

AND I’m excited to share with you that I found some new compression socks that I’m in love with- Lily Trotters! I was lucky enough to be sent a pair of their compression socks and I’ve worn them a few times now for training runs and just around the house (because I’m cool like that).

Lily Trotters Sock Selfie!

Some things I like about them:

They are made in the USA.
They are cute! Look at them. I love the polka dots and ruffles because let’s face it, I’m not that girly in real life but in my running life, I can pretend, right?
They’re soft and I can wear them all day. Sometimes compression socks itch if i wear them all day (does this happen to you?!) but these don’t!
They’re not toooo tight! I sometimes feel like other compression socks I wear are so tight over my slightly larger-than-normal not-so-ladilike calves, but not these.

I made Nicole take this picture of me running with them.

Want some for yourself? There’s a Kickstarter campaign starting July 14th so check them out now!

How about you? Some questions for you:

Have you crushed any running goals (or other workout goals) lately? What should my next goal be?
What’s your favorite pair of running shoes?
Do you wear compression socks? Yes! I have three pairs and I swear by them. I definitely think they help me with recovery.

Disclosure: I received a pair of Mizuno Wave Enigmas thanks to Fitfluential to try out AND Lily Trotters sent me a pair of their compression socks. As always, all thoughts and reviews are my own. 🙂

April Update: 360 miles down, 640 to go to my 1000 mile goal

April 5, 2013April 4, 2013 / Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / Leave a comment

Can you believe it’s already April? I can’t. From the colder than usual temps, occasional snow flurries, and general disbelief that April means B and I will soon be approaching my second wedding anniversary, it’s hard to believe that we’re already on Q2 of 2013. That being said, I’m still on pace to meet my goal of 1,000 miles this year! March was good to me. Despite the cooler temps, I managed to make 113 miles for March, which included quite a few treadmill runs, a few longer outdoor runs, and even a half marathon in South Bend, Indiana.

Photo stolen from the Holy Half

Month by month, here’s where I stand:

January: 136 miles

February: 111 miles

March: 113 miles

Year to date: 360 miles

Here’s how the weeks have gone:

First week in March

Highlights: got in an 11 miler on Friday after work! It made for a VERY enjoyable and relaxing Saturday:)
march running recap - 1000 miles
Second week in March

march running recap - 1000 miles
Third week in March

Highlights: Notre Dame Holy Half!
march running recap - 1000 miles
Last week in March

This month, I’m looking forward to so many things! In particular:

Warmer weather! I can’t wait to run in a t-shirt and shorts
New spring running clothes! I’m due for a new tank top or two
The Cleveland 10 Miler – B will be unavailable but I’m thinking of running this 10 mile race on my own! (You may recall last year we did the race as part of our 20 mile training run)
Reading What I Talk About When I Talk About Running – my brother got me this as a birthday gift and I can’t wait to break it open! Thanks Greg 🙂

Some questions to ponder:

What’s your favorite spring running gear? Where is your favorite place to shop for running clothes?
Have you read What I Talk About When I Talk About Running? What did you think?
What’s your favorite running book?

So this has actually happened before, including this week – B will tell me to go run so I can be out of his hair while he cleans.

A new year … A new running goal

January 7, 2013January 8, 2013 / Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / Leave a comment

Last year, if you recall, I trained completely for and nearly ran the Cleveland marathon (if you must know what happened, read this post) … but after getting two stress fractures just two days before the race, I had to back out and take a month off from running. I haven’t signed up for a marathon since (but am looking into a few half marathons) but have a new goal for 2013 – to run more than 1,000 miles.

If you’re a runner, you know that 1,000 miles is nothing. Twentyish miles a week. Heck, a runner I follow on Twitter had more than 2,000 last year! Still, I haven’t yet been able to accomplish this goal. Two years ago I was at 820ish. Last year, even with all the running during marathon training, I was at 860ish. So this year, I’m going to try to get to 1,000.

2011 vs 2012 thanks to Dailymile

I’m only one week into the new year, but I’m already feeling slightly discouraged. What if I go on vacation for a few weeks and don’t run? What if I get injured again and can’t run for another month or so? What if I don’t make it? What if I don’t have enough time – between Bridge Builders, DCA City Advocates, a few other projects and of course work, the next few months are pretty crazy.

I’ll have to remember this when I think I don’t have enough time

Thank goodness for Dailymile … I already have words of encouragement from a few other runners:

running

So how did week 1 go? I did each workout on my beloved dreadmill at the gym (the treadmill in my building is broken) and got to the goal of 20 miles.

January 1: 5.6 mi
January 2: 5.1 mi
January 3: 5.5 mi
January 5: 6.1 mi
January 6: 4 mi

So in total, I got in about 26 miles! If I can keep up this pace, I’ll definitely make it. Sure, some weeks will be hard, but it will only get better as the weather improves.

What are your goals for 2013?