Weekly Workouts 10/31-11/6

Elizabeth and I are officially training for the A1A half - remember, you can get 15% off the race by using coupon code ALI at checkout! - so I've decided to add total weekly mileage to my workout recaps.

Monday: Happy Halloween! We created a circuit to do at school. I had forgotten shoes and Elizabeth forgot her water so we were a bit limited in our exercises, but it ended up being a pretty good workout.

We did each exercise for 30 seconds and did the circuit 4 times.

Tuesday: 4 miles over the bridge. I've decided to use the same training plan I used the first half I really trained for and ran well. That means our weekday runs will all incorporate the bridge. It's a good way to build strength and speed without dedicated speed work.

First official run of training - done!

This run was kind of rough. I needed a walk break each time we finished our ascent, but I wasn't stressed about it because we have sixteen weeks to get strong, and I know running the bridge consistently will make it feel easy sooner rather than later.

Wednesday: 4 miles. Better! Only one walk break and much more consistent.

Thursday: Rest/volleyball. This was the night of Matt's film festival, so I didn't get a workout in.

Friday: 4 miles. This run felt awesome. We both felt very strong and ache-free. We paused at the top of the bridge on the second ascent because a motorcade was going by beneath us on the interstate! Tons of cop cars, town cars with American flags in the windows, and a big RV went by before I was able to get my phone out. A helicopter followed overhead. I think it was Tim Kaine because he was in town Saturday for a rally!

This was the best photo I could get of the motorcade.

Unfortunately, apparently bad luck with watches is just my thing now. My Garmin splits were all messed up and make no sense.

We ran 4 miles, but this turned up. 6 splits for a 4 mile run? The moving time and elevation aren't right, either. What did I do that made this turn up?

I think our last mile was quite fast and I wish I knew if the data were accurate.

Saturday: Rest.

Sunday: 7.15 miles. It's been since Sanibel that we've done a long run, so I was nervous but excited. This run means we're really training and that we completed our first week with flying colors!

Seven miles, easy 10:42 pace.

I'm not thinking about our paces at this point. We'll think about setting goals for A1A in January, but at this point I'm just happy to be training again! The run went really well - we didn't have to pause for any kind of breaks, and we just enjoyed ourselves and the run.

Total mileage: 19.

Did you have a good training week?

ABK

I Built a Bed!

Matt's dad and Tammy bought themselves a new furniture set and offered to give us their old one. I was really excited because we don't have any matching bedroom furniture. (I should have taken a "before" photo of our bedroom but forgot. Bad blogger move!)

The only problem was that the bed frame was built for a boxspring to sit in, and with our new foam mattress, we didn't want a boxspring. We wanted a platform.

So, we made one. (We actually made a slat platform because it allows for more airflow, which is better for the mattress and for keeping cool at night.)

Matt says he doesn't like Snapchat, but he seems pretty into it here. Also, this is the most I've ever smiled while at Lowe's.

First, we assembled the frame and measured the length and width; we did some math to figure out how many slats we'd need and how long they had to be, then headed to Lowe's to pick them up. We chose yellow pine wood, which I read was sturdy and perfect for platform beds, and had them cut to size.

While Matt worked on changing out the light switch which would be hidden by the headboard (we made it a smart-switch so we don't have to reach it anymore), I laid the slats down and measured them to 3.5 inches apart. Tuft & Needle recommends 3-4 inches of space between planks, so that's what we went with.

After laying all the planks, it was time to drill! Matt made the drill holes and then I drilled in the screws.

I didn't know how to use the drill but now I'm a pro. I'm learning life skills over here!

I felt pretty dang proud once we were done! 

We lifted the mattress back on and made up the bed. All told, including dismantling the old bed frame and moving it, the trip to Lowe's etc, we spent about six hours working on it!

None of our pillowcases match. Don't judge us.

The bed is lower to the ground now, which I like, and it's super sturdy. No more sliding around on a wheeled frame! The best part is that now that our squeaky boxspring is a thing of the past, the bed is totally silent. It's a million times nicer to sleep in now!

We moved the old boxspring and frame into the guest room, so we officially have real beds in both guest rooms - no more inflatables! I feel like we're real adults!

This really wasn't a bad way to spend a Sunday. I felt accomplished and exhausted afterward...which was perfect, because I had a brand new bed to sleep in!

PS: You guys are so awesome for all your advice on getting used to my Garmin! I'm combing through the comments and trying out some new things!

Have you done any DIY projects lately?
What does your bedroom set look like?
When was the last time you got new furniture?

ABK

Goodbye, Nike+; Hello Garmin

After Nike+ cut out on me at mile 4 of the Sanibel 10k, I decided I was done. I've used it since 2009, but this newest update has killed it for me.

I've officially deleted it from my phone and have charged up the Forerunner 10 I bought from my friend Kim last summer. I'm having some growing pains as I get used to Garmin Connect; I can still access all my information on the Nike+ website, but now that I'll be tracking new data on Connect, I wish there were a way to consolidate and merge everything.

I have some issues, and maybe those of you who are more familiar with Connect can help me out!

For one, the interface isn't very user friendly. The dashboard is crowded and hard to navigate. I don't like how it lists the recent runs, but I like even less when it just shows one run at a time. I know this can be adjusted somehow, but to what degree?

I don't like all these boxes, and I don't even know what those "Sigourney" runs are! I don't think they belong to me.

I hate having to plug in my watch to get info. I know the newer Garmin watches can sync wirelessly, but I miss how easy it was when using an app; my Nike+ and DailyMile could be updated from my phone within minutes of finishing a run. (Okay, no one can help me with this. I just needed to whine.)

I'm struggling with the fact that my lifetime miles aren't on the website because I've always stored them on Nike+. I have an excel document running now so I can keep those lifetime miles up to date, but I wish they could be stored in one place.

I began using DM after Nike+, so while it's pretty close to accurate, it's missing some miles. I suppose I could enter a fake run of 44 miles, and the small difference probably shouldn't bother me as much as it does, but it does.

The mileage looks comparable now, but the Nike+ screenshot is missing a few current runs.

Finally, I know that I can store my runs on my watch for some time; how often should I delete them? And...is there a way to track all my run information on my phone? I found the mobile app, so I'm all good there, once I figure out how to use it...

Really, I'm happy with how easy using the Forerunner is. Press a button to start, press a button to stop! I'm enjoying running with it. I really love how it breaks down my splits in more detail than just full miles! Nike+ never did that. Basically, I'm open to loving Garmin; I'm just impatient to be as fluent and comfortable with it as I was with Nike+.

Any advice on consolidating my lifetime miles or organizing Connect's dashboard?

ABK