Fitness Archives - Page 5 of 6

Marathon Monday: Week 15 of 16

It is the final stretch! Spoiler alert – I am sick. A nasty sinus infection has taken residence in my head, so week 16 is not off to a great start. Hopefully, the medicines get to working and I can feel about 90% myself by late this week. Sigh…read on to hear about my Half Marathon Training, Week 15! // Blog posts on this site may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive commissions if you choose to purchase through links I provide (at no extra cost to you). Read my full disclosure and privacy policy here https://mrsgregwillis.com/wpautoterms/privacy-policy/

If you’d like to read more about my previous experiences, check them out here!

Marathon Monday: Week 15 of 16 (Half Marathon Training)

Monday 4/23: 4 miles, 12’17” per mile- Hello, sun! I actually questioned wearing the double tank top, but figured I’d be a little modest on my lunch break. Afterall, I was debuting my ghostly white legs in my Happy Puppies running shorts (I got the Mandy and listened to their size guide and perfection).

My loop was a simple one, across 16th Street Bridge, to the Trail, and down almost to PNC Park and back. Everything felt pretty perfect about this one.

Wednesday 4/25 – 3.19 miles, 11’31” – Next year, I run with people to train. That’s going to take dropping a few more pounds and running a few more miles, but I know I can pull it off. This one was a warm one again. Greg and I took the twins out – he pushed the double stroller like a beast – and I talked the whole time. That proves that I should be pushing myself more. Our last mile was just over 11 minutes/mile. Welcome back, early 2014 Becky. Welcome back.

Friday 4/27: 6.28 miles, 11’57” – Well, the warm weather decided to stick around for all three of my workouts (runs) this week. I couldn’t stop smiling on this one, that pace! As of the end of this run, I decided I want to push myself to run with the 12’00” group (if there is one) and aim for a sub 2:40 half. I know I can, I just have to be healthy enough for race day.

So about that intensity decreasing. Sigh. I tried. I really did. Praying for strength – today’s run is done (not as good as any of last week’s but not that bad either, considering I can’t breathe and have a numb jaw and cheekbones). That leaves 2 miles then the 5k on Saturday. Next time you hear from me, it might just be Medal Monday instead! 😉

Follow me on Instagram to see how this week goes!

Total Training Miles of This Cycle: 190.92 miles | 5.1 miles remaining

April totals: 72.82 miles, 12’21” pace

March totals: 59.06 miles, 12’24” pace

February totals: 38.41 miles, 12’06” pace

January totals: 20.63 miles, 12’40” pace

Marathon Monday: Week 14 of 16

Friday of this week’s training plan officially brought me to the taper. Oh, boy is this going to be rough! Read on to hear about my Half Marathon Training, Week 14! // Blog posts on this site may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive commissions if you choose to purchase through links I provide (at no extra cost to you). Read my full disclosure and privacy policy here https://mrsgregwillis.com/wpautoterms/privacy-policy/

If you’d like to read more about my previous experiences, check them out here!

Marathon Monday: Week 14 of 16 (Half Marathon Training)

Monday 4/16: CrossFit > Final WOD of the Training Cycle- I fully braced myself for this to be awful emotionally. Last year when I hit taper time, I cried on nights I couldn’t go to CrossFit. This year, I don’t think it will be as bad since the nights are going to be filled with soccer and softball for the kids, so I won’t have time to worry about what I am missing out on. Also, I know full well that I can easily hurt myself, and I don’t want to.

So this last WOD. It was a partner WOD and again I am so grateful for Chris who has always been a source of strength and help while I’ve been learning how to do this CrossFit thing. She and I were partnered up and we tackled this bugger:

Instead of rowing, I tried the arc machine but felt like I might fall so swapped over to the treadmill and pulled off 24 calories at a sub-nine one of the rounds – there was no repeating that and I went to a 10 for the second time on the treadmill.

Afterward, I gave these fun compression socks a try. They definitely aren’t as supportive as my Feetures socks, but for an extra option to have on hand they work!

Tuesday 4/17 – 5.16 miles, 12’11” – I am seriously not sure what to expect for race day weather. At this point, I’m convinced it will be snowing as much as I’ve trained in it. The temps were just over freezing but I couldn’t put on all the layers because how did we drop 40 degrees in four days??!?! Keeping a little chilled for my “recovery miles” seemed to work. I needed a redemption from Satuday of last week and I sure got it.

The only thing is that I started to worry about my pace. For awhile, it was consistently 12’30” which made me mad – I wanted to do a 12’12” half. Adding that extra 18 seconds adds a few minutes to my overall time, and just when I was content with that, I pull of this and it felt so good (and actually slow). I keep tossing around the idea to just stay between the pacer for the 2:45 half and the next slowest pace group and see what happens and where I’m able to kick it in. You’d think that my third half would be all figured out.

Wednesday 4/18: 3 miles, 12’18” – I was like a kid at Christmas…it was the day my FitBit Versa arrived and the temps were back in the 40’s! For this run, I wanted to test out my new technology, but since it doesn’t have a built-in GPS, it argued with my Nike+ which I was running to check the results. Oops. Luckily the map matched my work, but I spent more time than I meant to fussing with my watch.

Friday 4/20: 11.29 miles, 12’12” – When I looked back at last year’s 11, I realized it didn’t happen because I had a stomach bug. Knowing that my longest run was 10 last year and I did it just fine without the eleven. That totally took the pressure off me, which shows in that pace!

For this one, I wore my running belt and carried an extra bottle of water. I drank it all. It was in a way another dress rehearsal, I wore a lighter pair of capris and the work running shirt. If temps are like they were Friday (high 50’s), I might be okay but still a little hot. Just have to keep hydrating!

For this one, I started at my office and then did the route from Saturday’s run plus a loop up 16th Street to East Ohio then down to Stanton and around the Commons Square and back a few blocks to pass the Warhol before starting the North Shore trek over to West End Bridge. I stopped to take it all in on West End Bridge and praise God for how much better this run was going at about six miles in.

The Station Square section of this run flew by, but going up the steps to Smithfield Street Bridge, I knew I’d need some leg rest that night. Surprisingly, I got back to the office and looked like I’d barely broken a sweat. What a great one!

And now to taper. I’m already struggling – how to decrease intensity when the mileage is shorter and the days are warmer!??! More to come on that in next week’s post.

Follow me on Instagram to see how this week goes!

April totals: 60.34 miles, 12’26” pace

March totals: 59.06 miles, 12’24” pace

February totals: 38.41 miles, 12’06” pace

January totals: 20.63 miles, 12’40” pace

Marathon Monday: Week 13 of 16

This week, I turned 35 – I’m now five years older than I was for my first Half Marathon. It is really starting to sink in that I really changed my life in my thirties, and it sure feels good! Read on to hear about my Half Marathon Training, Week 13! // Blog posts on this site may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive commissions if you choose to purchase through links I provide (at no extra cost to you). Read my full disclosure and privacy policy here https://mrsgregwillis.com/wpautoterms/privacy-policy/

If you’d like to read more about my previous experiences, check them out here!

Marathon Monday: Week 13 of 16 (Half Marathon Training)

Monday 4/9: CrossFit > BIRTHDAY WOD- With two WODs left until I enter the taper, of course it is a good thing that one of the two was my birthday WOD! While we were *cursing* my being 35, it sure was a good one. The heat in the annex was a bit unbearable, but I didn’t know it was about to prepare me for something really unbearable later in the week.

Thank you to my FitFam for celebrating with me!

Tuesday 4/10 – 5 miles, 12’25” – I ran for tacos. Not lying. The LA Taco truck is in Ford City on Tuesdays, just a little over 4.5 miles from my house. Perfect! I decided to run there (and a little past) then have Greg meet me there to get tacos (keto for me) and drive me home. It was sort of breezy and I was feeling being alone (not in a good way). What a good run for my mentality!

Wednesday 4/11: 4 miles, 12’14” – It was another breezy, dry dusty day in the Strip District, pushing me to do my best. Knocking 9 seconds a mile off my previous run? It sure did work!

Saturday 4/14: 10.02 miles, 12’55” – This one might just be the run that makes my training. I set out to run with Steel City Road Runners after a class on “the taper” (eek), but there weren’t pacers for my goal pace. Because it was hot, they advised running 30-60-90 seconds slower than you’d set out to. I heard, but I am not sure I listened. I set out with a group that had goals of 12-13 minutes per mile and did a speedy 12:17 first half mile and could feel it. I backed off a little and did a little over 1.5 miles with another runner then kept meeting up with others at stoplights. We hit the West End Bridge and had to do some steps. We made it through the heat of Carson Street. We navigated downtown. Then after the Seventh Ave Bridge…I lost everyone.

If I’d been smart, I would have stopped at the garage (mile six) and grabbed some water. I only had 12 ounces on me and the heat was rising. I had this feeling if I stopped, I’d stop for the day and only get 6 in, not 10. I’m not sure which would have been the bigger mistake…okay…stopping would have been now that I know how it went.

So at mile six, I was all alone, navigating my “home base” of the Strip District. I got to Liberty and realized I was simply too hot. Water. Nope, didn’t work. Tried to pull my shirt up a bit, still not enough. I was steamy and had to start to walk. By the time I passed my office, I had 2.5 miles left and started walking every other block until I got to 31st Street Bridge. I power walked that half mile up and over the bridge then tried to take the downhill back to the trail. At this point, my fingers were so swollen I was scared.

While I made it back, this one was tough. My splits were all over – mile six (all alone out there) was my fastest – 12’12”, into the 13-minute miles. Eep. But still, I made it, 25 seconds slower than my goal and 30 seconds faster thatn 2017’s Half. I think I have this, and this run sure did teach me some lessons.

This week is my final long run, eleven. I’ve got this, and you do too. xoxo

Follow me on Instagram to see how this week goes!

April totals: 36.88 miles, 12’33” pace

March totals: 59.06 miles, 12’24” pace

February totals: 38.41 miles, 12’06” pace

January totals: 20.63 miles, 12’40” pace

Marathon Monday: Week 12 of 16

This week, those of us training for the Pittsburgh Marathon weekend hit the one month mark until race day. It’s so hard to believe how close we are! Read on to hear about my Half Marathon Training, Week 12! // Blog posts on this site may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive commissions if you choose to purchase through links I provide (at no extra cost to you). Read my full disclosure and privacy policy here https://mrsgregwillis.com/wpautoterms/privacy-policy/

If you’d like to read more about my previous experiences, check them out here!

Marathon Monday: Week 12 of 16 (Half Marathon Training)

Monday 4/2: CrossFit – This was a partner WOD, and due to Rubens and I working through some injuries/me starting to taper, we partnered up and found a good balance between wanting to workout like usual and playing it safe. I’m so thankful he understood and pushed *just* enough. Good work, friend!

PS: Can I talk about the fact that I am a mom of four and the youngest two, twins, turned three this day? Pretty proud of how far I’ve come on this journey!

Tuesday 4/3 – 5 .12 miles, 12’21” – Just like last Tuesday, this run started (then ended) in rain. I wore my jacket and got super sweaty so off it went midway through. Took the same path as last week (Liberty to 16th to the trail then past PNC Park and back). It was less muddy and I slowed down to enjoy this reminder…

Wednesday 4/4: 3.5 miles, 12’24” – Who else ran in the wind? I tackled 31st and 16th street bridges and my abs still hurt on Friday morning from that. Fighting the wind (I hear it was 21 mph + gusts?!?) and some flurries, I’m pretty stoked about this one.

Thursday 4/5: REST! – Because the forecast said there’d be snow Saturday, I took a day off out of schedule so I could do my long run a day early. This might have been one of the best decisions of my training plan.

Friday 4/6: 9.22 miles, 12’33” – Another one in the sun and some warm weather! There was less wind than Wednesday, but still a lot of dust flying about and some struggles when I was headed south. I mapped out a run that would challenge me – Penn to Butler to 40th Street Bridge then to 31st, Liberty, 16th and out past PNC again and back to work. Super proud, and pretty sure 2:43:45 is my goal (12’30” and a 9 minute 10 second PR for my 3rd half).

After this run, I am a little fearful my toe is broken again (just like it’s done in all but one of my past distance runs). =( Spent some time in my Feetures compression socks and hope that will help!

This week, particularly Wednesday and Friday, proved to myself that I am a Runner of Steel. Sure, I have a medal rack with 10 medals hanging on it (3 of which are Pittsburgh Marathon medals + 2 EQT 10-miler ones, all saying I am a Runner of Steel). Sure, I figured out a running shoe that worked for me. Sure, I have plenty of running clothes that say I am a Runner of Steel. But this week, it hit me.

I’ve run all but five miles of this training cycle (over 120 miles) alone. I let nothing stop me – stomach issues, back injury, snow, rain, wind, being alone. It is grit, passion, and steel. This year is so redemptive for me, and I hope I’m able to keep this up until my littles can start to join me!

I’m already dreading how I’ll feel with tapering, but my plan calls for a 10 then an 11 before that. Can’t wait to see how those turn out!

Follow me on Instagram to see how this week goes!

April totals: 17.84 miles, 12’28” pace

March totals: 59.06 miles, 12’24” pace

February totals: 38.41 miles, 12’06” pace

January totals: 20.63 miles, 12’40” pace

Marathon Monday: Week 11 of 16

While last week’s training for the upcoming Half Marathon didn’t go as planned, with five weeks to go I am feeling so ready! Read on to hear about my Half Marathon Training, Week 11! // Blog posts on this site may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive commissions if you choose to purchase through links I provide (at no extra cost to you). Read my full disclosure and privacy policy here https://mrsgregwillis.com/wpautoterms/privacy-policy/

If you’d like to read more about my previous experiences, check them out here!

Marathon Monday: Week 11 of 16 (Half Marathon Training)

Monday 3/26: CrossFit – Mondays are always tough, but when they are a birthday WOD they are even tougher! I was still recovering from 5 days of not really eating, so finishing was a pretty big thing for me. I also was able to split jerk 75 pounds in the strength portion – yay for healing vertebrae!

Tuesday 3/27 – 5 miles, 12’46” – It was pouring down a cold rain, but I needed this run mentally and physically. Things felt pretty good! The path was Liberty to 16th to the trail then past PNC Park and back. Things were still a bit muddy/floody, but it felt good to be one of the few out there getting lunchtime miles in.

Wednesday 3/28: 3.66 miles, 12’14” – I was ready for a break and just as I did, out came the rain again. This one was warm enough for the tank top. Something was up with my running app, so I went a little farther than I had planned. Love coming back from a run and the twins greeting me with, “Mommy? You go for a run?”. I sort of hope the weather is like this on race day – 50’s and a light mist. Nothing to soak the feet, just something to keep it cool.

Thursday 3/29: CrossFit – This was the WOD that made me decide only three more until Half. My knee popped out of place at one point and I had to scale way more than I would have liked. It’s for the best, but still a little heartbreaking. So close, no sense getting hurt!

Saturday 3/31: 8 miles, 12’30” – This might just be my new goal pace, or at least the group I’ll stick with for most of the Half. It felt right, but I know I can push harder. There was a lot of wind and brilliant sunshine. I ran 4 miles to Ford City and back, encountered a few other runners along the way. I had my running belt but didn’t hydrate, which was a lesson I needed to learn. I guess if I didn’t feel thirsty I was okay? My keto breakfast of sausage and pickles just might be my race day meal, too…

Through the week, I gained back about 4 of the 8 pounds I lost while sick (which in my book is good). Week twelve is going to be a challenge – there is snow in the Pittsburgh forecast!

Follow me on Instagram to see how this week goes!

March totals: 59.06 miles, 12’24” pace

February totals: 38.41 miles, 12’06” pace

January totals: 20.63 miles, 12’40” pace

Marathon Monday: Week 10 of 16

This was my toughest Half Marathon Training week ever in the course of three Half Marathons. Ugh! Read on to hear about my Half Marathon Training, Week 10! // Blog posts on this site may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive commissions if you choose to purchase through links I provide (at no extra cost to you). Read my full disclosure and privacy policy here https://mrsgregwillis.com/wpautoterms/privacy-policy/

If you’d like to read more about my previous experiences, check them out here!

Marathon Monday: Week 10 of 16 (Half Marathon Training)

Monday 3/19: 1.5 mile + CrossFit – The CrossFit WOD called for 6 400’s which I thoroughly enjoyed. The rest of that workout was crazy and I needed to scale due to current limitations of not being able to do pull-ups. I still beat the 40-minute limit by about 5 minutes, phew! What I didn’t know was this was going to be my best workout of the week.

Tuesday 3/20 – 4 miles, 12’29” – I almost didn’t do this run. A snowstorm was rolling in and it was icy rain. What haunted me about this one was Greg’s words to me – you want to PR, don’t you? So I hit the pavement and headed out around the Strip and across 31st Street Bridge for a frigid four. This one hurt, but I thought it was just because of the cold hitting my lungs. What I didn’t know was the next four days I’d be down for the count, battling some type of sickness. Luckily, it doesn’t seem that it was viral (whole family is okay) and I lost 8 pounds while fighting it (meh). Let’s hope it doesn’t put me back too far in training.

Sunday 3/25: 4.35 miles, 13’54” – To be honest, I shouldn’t have done this. Sunday was the first day I felt like I could eat, but I ran this on only an egg and two pieces of bacon and about 8 ounces of water. My goal was to run home from church, and while I didn’t run it all, I wanted to at least get part of the 7 I was supposed to. Two miles in, I took my first sip of water and it hit my stomach like a brick. I had to stop and breathe and tell myself not to lose it. This was rough. I then started walking and would jog every so often. A mile later, the trail got super muddy and even snowy/icy, so I was okay with this change in plans. When I got back to town, I probably logged half a mile of running in the last little bit, but it definitely didn’t feel good or normal. Miles, even if slow, are still miles, right? It was home to hydrate and nap!

Let’s hope my modified plan (to get back to eating and training) in week 11 works out.

Follow me on Instagram to see how this week goes!

March totals: 42.39 miles, 12’20” pace

February totals: 38.41 miles, 12’06” pace

January totals: 20.63 miles, 12’40” pace

Marathon Monday: Week 9 of 16

When I see there are less than two months to go until race day, I don’t panic. I am so excited for this day, maybe to the point of obsession. So happy that I’m a day into week ten as I type up this traning recap! Read on to hear about my Half Marathon Training, Week 9! // Blog posts on this site may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive commissions if you choose to purchase through links I provide (at no extra cost to you). Read my full disclosure and privacy policy here https://mrsgregwillis.com/wpautoterms/privacy-policy/

If you’d like to read more about my previous experiences, check them out here!

Marathon Monday: Week 9 of 16 (Half Marathon Training)

Monday 3/12: 1 mile + CrossFit, 11’00” – Can’t remember why, but I needed to do my WOD on Monday this week, so to the Y I went. It was a partner WOD and it went a little something like this:

2 miles, when Partner 1 is running Partner 2 works on their share of 100 Bear Complex…then when you’ve finished, 15 minutes of Max Wallballs.

Since I’m in training for the Half and my partner was too, we decided to do longer runs and split the 2 into half miles each (twice). I totally threw on Nike+ and grabbed a selfie because I knew I’d push myself knowing my partner was waiting. And push I did. 1 mile, 11’00” added to the training miles this month. Boom. (for me)

Tuesday 3/13 – 4.07 miles, 12’15” – My legs felt the bear complexes and this run was what it was – but still amazing for me. I honestly don’t remember too much of it because I was in the zone. So much I forgot to snap a selfie until I got back to my desk. This week, I wore black every day I think.

Wednesday 3/14: 3.28 miles 11’50”– I cracked my screen protector and my phone was doing all sorts of silly things, like telling me I wasn’t to my first mile until I’d completely crossed the 16th Street Bridge and was up behind the Sarah Heinz House and dialing people while I was running. I was pretty miffed but kept running until I was almost midway between East Ohio Street and 31st Street along 28.

When I turned around, I knew I’d been moving it and was so mad to hear my “halfway point” about halfway back to 16th Street. This one had to be mapmyrun’ed because GAH. But that pace makes me happy! I know I can do this thing.

See my confusion?!?!

Thursday 3/15: CrossFit – Thursday is one of the best WODs because you know the week is almost done. I also got to work out with one of my first CrossFit friends and she pushed me through our Partner WOD. I had to scale the 200m runs to 175m because whoa fast. And the burpees. I am still not ready for those. Sigh. My rib might need another adjustment after this one. Eek!

Sunday 3/10: 6 miles, 12’02” – I was so glad to see “abundant sunshine” on the forecast, so I held out for my long run to Sunday afternoon. The plan was I’d run home from church then go a little further, but things happened. Our van broke down again and it kinda was a crappy weekend. I tried to stay positive and went for my run. Greg met me at three miles with water but it was a bottle and I didn’t gulp it right. That sat on my crossfit rib and I slowed things down in miles 4 and 5 but there was no stopping me in mile 6. And the twins ran about half a mile of the trail as Greg worked to meet me again after my 2nd turnaround. Ava is a runner – check out some sweet pics of the three them over on Instagram. (My older runners were with Pappy and Grammie.)

Next up? Week TEN!!!

Follow me on Instagram to see how this week goes!

March totals: 34.04 miles, 12’07” pace

February totals: 38.41 miles, 12’06” pace

January totals: 20.63 miles, 12’40” pace

Marathon Monday: Week 8 of 16

Halfway Point. 7.86 weeks to go. 78.74 miles completed. Average pace, 12’19” per mile. Anyone else love their Nike+ Run Club motivating voice? I used to get so mad hearing it, but am embracing her very much these days. Read on to hear about my Half Marathon Training, Week 8! // Blog posts on this site may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive commissions if you choose to purchase through links I provide (at no extra cost to you). Read my full disclosure and privacy policy here https://mrsgregwillis.com/wpautoterms/privacy-policy/

If you’d like to read more about my previous experiences, check them out here!

Marathon Monday: Week 8 of 16 (Half Marathon Training)

Monday 3/5: 4.01 miles, 12’17” – I keep trying to push myself to do more hills and this route got me lost a little, but I found a good challenging (for me) route that’s a 4-mile loop near the office. This one took me 31st Street Bridge, across and along 28, then around the Heinz plant back to 16th Street Bridge. Frankly, I loved it. I also overdressed for the abundant sunshine we had.

This run leads me to a question – hopefully someone can comment with an answer! What do you do for hydration on long runs? Is it time for me to invest in a backpack like this backpack or find a way to love the hydration belt (similar to this one) I bought in 2013 – would it even still work?

Tuesday 3/6 – Tempo Run 2.88 miles, 12’09” -This day. Since 2000, March 6 is always the hardest day of my year. I lost my best friend 18 years ago to cancer. We were sixteen. I needed to run and was so glad to see that it wasn’t speed work, but a run. I cried a bit on this one because my Wendy was a runner and I wish we were doing this thing together. This run was for her.

This tempo was 10 minutes slow, 15 minutes fast, 10 minutes slow. I am not even sure I did that, I just pushed.

I was so glad that Tuesday evening brought 8 ladies from my church into my home for a study on the Sabbath and finding rest in this crazy world. It got me thinking about what I’m enslaved to – perhaps my pace goal – and I am yearning for our next sessions!

Wednesday 3/7: 2.5 miles 12’17”– I took it easy on myself this run – three runs in a row and I was feeling it. It was a little colder than it had been the two days before, and I dressed the same. Oops.

Thursday 3/8: CrossFit – Fourth day in a row of working out and I wanted to give up. We’d had a long week, Greg and I barely saw each other, he was driving in snow, I had a stressful commute one day, and it just seemed like I had too much on my to do list to work out. He put the carseats in the car and told me I better go, so glad I listened. I tackled that to do list after the WOD, even though I felt like crud doing it. It was my official “I’ve been cleared to Crossfit” WOD, after all!!!

Strength: 10 Rounds of 10 Floor Press (bella bar, 35#) and 8 Kettlebell Row (20#) – I accomplished 8

WOD: EMOM x30 –

150 m run
12 DB Snatch (12# right, 30# left)
10 cal row (I opted to run 10 cal at 7’30” instead)
15 wallballs (this hurt so I did air squats)
10 box jump overs (I’m still stepping up)
8 overhead squats (bella bar, 35#)

Proof I did it was sent to Greg:

Saturday 3/10: 5.01 miles, 12’20” – I was done with the week and didn’t run until 12:30, usually I’m out there early on a Saturday. My thighs hurt. My stomach hurt (can we talk breakfast? What do other Keto runners do for breakfast before runs? HELP!). I did it anyways, and I told myself not to push for my goal race pace (12’12”). I also ran through some mud and didn’t give up.

Miles 1 and 2 were pretty much the same (with the mud), slow. I dropped 20 seconds off for mile three then had to slow ‘er down for Mile 4 as I climbed a small hill in town. Mile five was straight back home and flat – I took advantage and had a 44 second split from four and pulled an 11’46” mile! No dumping on myself, this was pretty incredible.

Follow me on Instagram to see how this week goes!

March totals: 20.69 miles, 12’10” pace

February totals: 38.41 miles, 12’06” pace

January totals: 20.63 miles, 12’40” pace

Marathon Monday: Week 7 of 16

I’m starting to feel all kinds of excited and ready! Saturday morning, I even starting telling the kids it’s time to get training for their one-mile run. While I need to stop comparing myself to the 2013, 2014, and 2016 runner, I have lots to be proud of this week. Read on to hear about my Half Marathon Training, Week 7! // Blog posts on this site may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive commissions if you choose to purchase through links I provide (at no extra cost to you). Read my full disclosure and privacy policy here https://mrsgregwillis.com/wpautoterms/privacy-policy/

If you’d like to read more about my previous experiences, check them out here!

Marathon Monday: Week 6 of 16 (Half Marathon Training)

Monday 2/26: 3.53 miles, 12’04” – Something pretty big happened in my husband’s life on Sunday (and as of the drafting of this post, he hasn’t made it *Facebook official* yet, so I’m holding out), and that gave me some physical and mental freedoms that can only be explained as works of God. My shoulder stopped hurting and running was a breeze. I could have kept going on this one!

Tuesday 2/27: Speed Work – I set out to do 6×400 as fast as I could. It got a little hot and tough in the middle, but I ended up doing a .35 mile warmup then .35 mile cooldown around my 1.5 mile speed. The speed work averaged out at 9’17″/mile, and it showed through the rest of this week’s training!

Wednesday 2/28: 2.5 miles 12’12”– I was warm for this one and it showed a little. It still felt really good, and here I am, right where I want to be for the half. This one took me over 16th and up the trail a little.

Thursday 3/1: CrossFit – This WOD started with strict press for strength. I don’t have that yet, so I just worked on the PVC pipe. The WOD was leg and shoulder intense:

30 Front Rack Dumbbell stepups
60 box jump overs
30 Front Rack Dumbbell stepups
EMOM 5 burpees

Guess who actually did about 30 of those burpees real? Yup. I’m getting back!!! The WOD and other 70 were still scaled, but gosh it feels good.

Friday 3/2: 5.26 miles, 12’07” – Amazing. I ran 31st street bridge, Washington’s Landing, Rachel Carson, through the Convention Center (getting lost thanks to some sidewalk construction), then the strip. It was cold but not too cold, I actually overdressed. My music wasn’t syncing, so this was all me and my brain and it felt awesome.

While I say I overdressed, that was in the way of my hat and fleece. I was wearing Fusion Sports USA Hot Pants running tights (that they sent me to try out after my fall a few weeks ago) and my legs felt awesome. If you’ve not heard of these yet, check them out here – I’m eyeing up the shorts because I feel like spring just might be around the corner.

Saturday 3/3: Bubby had a derby car race today, so I was home with the three girls. Friday was my long run instead, but I spent some time making fall plans and I am 99% sure I’ll be doing the Myrtle Beach Mini Marathon in October. That medal, yo!

Follow me on Instagram to see how this week goes!

March totals: 5.26 miles, 12’07” pace (and my NRC is finally showing lifetime at 12’59”!!!)

February totals: 38.41 miles, 12’06” pace

January totals: 20.63 miles, 12’40” pace

Running Safety with Ripple

May 2020 update: I’ve been thinking A LOT about running safety since so many of us are running solo. This post, Running Safety with Ripple, reminded me of one of the many ways we runners (or anyone out doing activity solo) can stay safe.

Why worry?

A few months ago, I was out on a lunchtime run when a co-worker yelled a “hey” my way. I didn’t hear her and that really concerned me. Yes, I jam to my “run war room” and it helps keep me moving, but I wasn’t really thinking about running safety.

This scared us both when we talked about it. Yeah, I’m a strong mama but that’s just it. I have a lot of people counting on me and my strength just might not be enough some day.

Right around the same time, I was contacted by Ripple to give their safety solution a try, so I decided it was something definitely worth talking about here. And

Running Safety with Ripple

Ripple is a wearable running safety device that I’ve decided to use for running. It clips on my running belt or I can slip it in my pocket to keep close and feel safe. You may have noticed it on my fleece’s zipper in some of my running Instagrams, too!

Here’s what Ripple Safety shared with me that made me say yes, this is something I want with me:

Ripple is not another panic button safety device. It is personal safety for the modern world – solving both emergencies and uncomfortable situations. Unlike all other personal safety devices on the market, Ripple is a tiny (size of a dime), discreet button linked to the user’s smartphone, which can be accessed without anyone noticing. The device connects users to a live, personal backup team so, instead of calling for help, the help calls you.
Trained Ripple professionals handle alerts 24/7. Click the wearable device, and the user will immediately receive a call from the Ripple monitoring team to his or her smartphone. They know who and where the user is, and have resources to immediately dispatch emergency services if the user needs it. If a user requires emergency help, but can’t talk on the phone, he or she can click three times and the monitoring team will send first responders directly to their location.

My Experience with Ripple

Since the start of the year, I’ve been running with Ripple. The app was easy to set up – it took me about 10 minutes to get my info and Greg’s (as my emergency contact) entered in and location set. It does run on my phone 24/7, so even if I don’t have the device on me, I still can call for help. I was worried about this a little, but it’s not killed my battery or data – score!

Does Ripple Safety sound like a need in your running kit? Head over to Amazon and pick up a device + one month of service or a device + one year of service NOW!

To be 100% honest, I found the Ripple device a bit sensitive until I got used to it – I actually accidentally called support 3 or 4 times (and the kids did it once!). Thankfully, support is super friendly and just asked if I was okay, then they were understanding that I’d clicked on accident. Now, Ripple just goes along with me on my runs so that it’s ready to call my emergency number on one click or 911 on three.

How Ripple Changed My Running

Thankfully, I’ve not had an unsafe or emergency situation, but I am so glad to have this at my fingertips. When I fell a few weeks ago, I was able to get up and call Greg, but just knowing that if I’d been hurt worse that Ripple could have helped felt so good.

And note, I’m all about running safety, but Ripple is perfect to put on your keys, purse, or belt loop for general safety…and I can see it even being great for parents to give to kids in case they have a need for help! (You can even find Ripple on Amazon with Prime shipping – highly recommend you shop now!)

Get Running Safely with Ripple

Don’t just take my word for it! Here is a personal testimony about Ripple about using it not just for running, but for safety in general.

About Ripple
Ripple Network Technologies, Inc. was co-founded in 2015 by Rees Gillespie, the creator of Ripple, and his lifelong friend, Jaime Gomez. Rees was inspired to create Ripple after his mother, a real estate agent, continuously asked him to call and check on her while attending showings with unknown clients. Inspired by wanting to ensure that everyone had instant access to a support network that can be utilized anytime, anywhere, Rees set out to create a trusted safety solution service that empowers users to live their lives knowing someone always has their back. To learn more about Ripple, visit Ripple Support or follow on Facebook and Instagram.