Back to Negative Splits

I just finished my first cutback week. I ended up making another 1st since my return to running.
It went very well. I have had a great time with new runners and walkers. It felt great getting my mileage in this morning to finish my cutback week on a high note. I even had great negative splits even though was running at an easy pace.

Mile 1 - 10:18
Mile 2 - 9:38
Mile 3 - 9:35

Pace: 9:50/mi

1st Round of Speedwork - DONE!!

This MNFirefly is DEFINITELY back!

I started my 5 mile speedwork with a mile warm-up at 5.2 MPH. Then I did my 1st mile interval at 6 MPH (10:00/mi) before bringing it back down to 5.4 MPH for a 1/2 mile. I started my 2nd and final interval at 6 MPH and then brought it up 6.2 MPH (9:40/mi) for the last 1/2 mile before bringing it back down to 5.4 MPH for a 1/2 mile. Then I did a mile cooldown at 5.2 MPH. I felt really good during the entire run and very strong. I made sure that I did a TON of stretching and hit the foam roller afterwards.

One year ago, I could barely do 15 minutes and was on my way for my 2nd knee surgery. Today, I am stronger than EVER even though my speed could use some improvement in order to return to my pre-surgery self. But I am happy with what I see so far.

In the words of Elton John: "The B**** is BACK!"

Countdown to my R2R Day!!

Yes, blog peeps! This Firefly will be returning to running.....soon. It has been officially slightly over 5 months since my 2nd knee surgery. I am taking things very...very....slow before I get back on the path again. I have set a R2R day for August 4th.

I have been doing a lot of cycling lately. In fact, I am in the middle of the MapMyRide - Aquaphor Tour de France challenge. I have been enjoying my outdoor ride a lot especially knowing that I am completing again against faster riders. But I have been able to hit and maintain a speed between 15 to 17 MPH on most parts of the ride, but nothing slower than 13 or 14 MPH. I am slowly knowing when I really slow down.

I am also hitting the weight room a lot lately after switching gyms. I am starting to develop mini guns and looking more toned than before. I even have my hubby loving to go to the gym as well. He's been looking quite studly lately with the big arm muscles. I am beginning to wonder if the ladies have been noticing. Now if I can get the beer gut down.....hmmmm.

I took the GRE a couple of weeks ago. I am not happy with the results, but it will at least get me more considered at my prime choices for graduate schools. At least my grades are still maintain close to 3.9 so I start to enter my 2nd year of my Master's program. Plus I had a strong score on the writing portion of the GRE and I believe that's more important than the other two scores.

That's all for now. Now I am off to bed.

Returning to Running....

.....in 10 days.

I need to allow my ankle to heal a little bit more. My big toe needs to do a lot of its ABC's.

My plan for 2009 involves NO MARATHONS...period. I need to completely rehab my ankle and regain my speed again. I will be looking at HM when I go to the Chicago Marathon expo next weekend.

Right now, I am preparing for a December 2008 LSAT exam. Tommorow I am visiting one of my law school picks as I start to get serious about the next step of my career. I just need to get some luck on the job market so I can switch careers.

A little bit of effort goes a LONG way

The running is getting better and better every time I am on the treadmill. This week's goal is to comfortably run 3 miles 3x a week. Well, I have successfully ran "Day ONE" of the goal. I managed to push myself on the treadmill and kept at very steady pace. It does help to have a gym partner to join me during the time. I had the awful side stitches with only 0.2 miles to go (UGH!). I pressed on and did not stop until I finished the mileage.

Today's run
3 miles
12:30/mile pace


How awesome is that!

Another awesome day running....

.....and I am almost got my mojo back. It felt good after a busy day at work. It was VERY hot when I got to the gym. But when I left, the temps were 15 degrees cooler and raining. It felt so good. This is Day 3 in the gym with two more days at least to go. Yayyy!

Today's run
30 minutes
2.32 miles
12:55/mile

I just want my running partner well enough to join me.

Firefly RUNS!

YES, you read it right! I am running again......and feels great! I ran 30 minutes both on Friday and this afternoon. I have improved slowly in speed and on the verge of getting my full Firefly mojo back within a month. My lungs did not like the first run at first, but I felt a TOTAL different during today's run. It was SO awesome!

Friday's run
30 minutes
2.22 miles
13:30/mile


TODAY's run
30 minutes
2.30 miles
13:02/mile


My feet have been broken in the walking department. The running department with the orthotics have a little of work to do. They feel really good when I run, but I can tell afterwards that I still need a little more time to adjust to them.

But I can officially say this: FIREFLY'S BACK!!

Let's MARK THIS on the calendar......

......because it's my FIRST gym visit in over 4 weeks. Yes, I have been VERY bad!! Well, not totally after my last two bike rides last week.....and all of the walking I do before, during, and after work. It's too darn hot to ride today so I was forced to go inside. I really worked on my abs and lower body. I even tried the Jacob's Ladder for 2 minutes (that's all I could do...sorry!) I did squats, lunges, and weight machine to build more muscle in legs so I can return to RUNNING. The orthodics are getting MUCH BETTER. I hope to do my treadmill run on Thursday or Friday. We will have to see. Someone's trying to push me out the door so we can run together. He's running a little anxious lately.....and antsy too. I plan to take it one run at a time until I am fully ready. I am almost there.

It's Deja Vu all over again....

...but it's on the OTHER knee. Yes, fellow bloggers, this Firefly is having KNEE issues again. It's a TOTAL repeat of the previous knee issues that started after P.F. Chang's in January.

And what is this strong Firefly going to do?

I am not going to sit and cry until puddles are made near my feet.

HELL NO!

I am going to work with my chiropractor and learn from the previous PT visits. I am going to ICE and ICE some more until I can not stand it. I am going to work on my cross-training to strengthen the weak muscles near the knee and quads. I had a very good massage yesterday at the Chicago School of Massage Therapy (was still in a total relaxation/snooze mode when he worked the ITB good).

I also hiring a drill instructor to help me out.

Not that one.

This one!

I am a Firefly on a mission. A mission to heal right so I can start my HM training - for the Chicago Half Marathon on September 9th and run WITH Josh. Josh needs his running partner back.

Another good treadmill day

Yes, I could have been outside, but took in comfort of the treadmill where I can run with some control of my speed. Then Josh met up with me to take the bus to the bike shop to pick up our bikes. My bike feels SO much better now. Today's workout 30 minutes - Treadmill run 2.52 mile 11:54/mile - A little bit slower than yesterday, but still good.

I'm BACK!!!!!

I went back to an old friend - the eliptical machine - today while at Bally's. I did not exactly go back to the level I was at before the ITB problems. It has been over 3 months since P.F. Chang's and since I have made it into the gym (ME BAD!) I struggled towards the middle of the workout, but I finished the whole thing. But I had NO pain in my ITB band area. All I have to say after reading the stats below is......this FIREFLY'S BACK!!! Today's workout 35 minutes - Elliptical machine 3.32 miles 10:32/mile pace - YAYYYYYYYY!