Inspiration...big or small!

A lot of workouts to catch up on, but I wanted to first touch on how inspirational every day life can be, and how inspiration can come from so many different things! Today I was really tired after work! As I ate my dinner (crockpot ham lentil soup - yum!), and watched Jeopardy, my mind weighed the pros and cons to go swimming. In the end I thought about how hard athletes train to do what they love (my friend Jen ran her first marathon yesterday (Boston Marathon) in 90 degree heat after months and months of grueling training). So as I drove over to Wash Park Rec Center - I was so happy to have gotten off my butt. Runner after runner after cycler after walker cruised around the loops in Wash Park. It is so great to see so many active people! My swim turned out great (below). Then, as I walked the pups after the swim I thought of other recent inspirations. My sister, Molly, called me yesterday to tell me she signed up for her first 5k!! I thought back to my first 5k when I was actually visiting her in NC. All it took was that first hurdle and each one after became easier and easier. These are just a few (athletic) inspirations and I know there are so many more! Aaron got a promotion and will now be supporting a few Sales Managers for the hotel! He faced a lot of closed doors before this one opened - but his perseverance and determination showed me not to give up! Over the weekend Aaron and I were able to see my godparents in New Mexico. My aunt was very diligent to provide us with healthy snacks and dinner while we were there! I feel like sometimes I am short changing myself while doing all this training! For the most part AA and I eat healthy, but with all the activity we probably take a few shortcuts knowing we worked out that day! So we decided to be even more conscious to eat healthier over the next few weeks as we prepare for the Bolder Boulder. OK on to the workouts!

Tuesday - 4/10
Becoming routine!

Day: 4 mile loop at work. 
walk .25, run 1
repeat 2x then walk .25 
=3 mile run, 1 mile walk

Evening: Lap Swim
10x25 meters
repeat 3x
=40 laps


Wednesday - 4/11
My friend Hartford Jen and I were supposed to ride in Cherry Creek after work (second attempt). When it was time to leave, there was a severe thunder storm warning, tornado warnings, hail, T-storms, rain. We decided to postpone and I just did 30 minutes on the cycle bike at work instead. Hopefully this week!

Thursday - 4/12
3.2 mile Orchard Hills course. I struggled. 
My stomach felt funny and I finished the run hunched over - no bueno!
Run 1 mile, walk .2, run 1 mile, walk .2, run .8 = run 2.8 miles and walk .4


Weekend intro: Aaron and I headed down to the Hyatt Tamaya Resort in Albuquerque, NM on Friday morning. It was a great weekend away - still filled with lots of activities!!!!


Friday - 4/13
6.5 mile bike around on the trails at Tamaya Resort in ABQ! We got a little lost and it ended up being longer....on cruisers! Fun times :-)

AA - Sandia's in background

Panda with Sandia's and Rio Grande

Tamaya Resort in Background!

Does a few rides down the water slide count as 'cross-training'? :-)

Water slide - AA is waving from the top left!

Saturday - 4/14
The weather was calling for 40 mile per hour winds in the afternoon so AA and I went out early for a run around the trails at Tamaya (where we had biked). 

2 mile run

walk .25

2 mile run

walk .25

1 mile run

It started out slow - but that is OK for long runs, right?? 10:50 pace for first 2 miles. The third was about the same, the 4th and 5th felt great actually! The last .5 miles was a 9:50 pace! Great run with AA in NM :-)

 Sunday - 4/15

AA and I met my godparents (Auntie Annie and Uncle Brian) for a hike in the Sandias at 8 AM!! It was overcast for the hike, encountered some chilly temps and wind at the top - but it was a beautiful hike and a great time! It was neat to see the different landscape that is in New Mexico. As we progressed up in elevation the landscape actually started to look more like CO and then back east which was very neat! Auntie Annie and Uncle Brian were marathon hikers! They did great! They were blazing the trail the whole time and I tried to keep up and hydrate! Face definitely got purple on the way up :-) They will be coming out to Colorado this summer for their first 14er, which they will have NO problem with! Aaron's blog has a great recap! http://coloradorambler.blogspot.com

Distance: 9.15 mile hike 

Elevation gain: 2,760 ft

Time: 3 hours, 32 minutes

Elevation

Mile times + Elevation

New Yorkers at the top!

AA, the pups and me!

Monday - 4/16

Nothing! Break!

Tuesday - 4/17

Day: Same as a week ago!

4 mile loop at work, alternating walking .25 and running 1 mile

=3 mile run

=1 mile walk

My time this week was faster than last week and I felt strong!

Evening: Lap Swim

I kicked up the laps by 10% so I did 44 laps!

I also increased the laps I did before taking a break

Instead of 10 (25m) laps - 4 times

I did 16 laps, then 16 laps, then 12! = 44

Breathing felt good! Plus it was not crowded!

So the past week has been busy but I am feeling healthy! My legs are a little tired, so early to bed tonight! I also have been trying to ice to ankle, and need to find the band to do my exercises!

Tomorrow cross your fingers the bike ride will happen at Cherry Creek!!