February 9 - 4 miles

Hard to believe it's taper time for the 1/2 marathon — already! Time flies. Unfortunately there weren't two treadmills together so Lisa and I had to separate. I managed to do 4 without too much trouble, though I stopped to stretch my nagging left ankle about midway through. I took some walk breaks but ran most of it at 9:30 pace. HR up to the 160s. Very humid in the gym again.

February 8 - 30 min cardio + weights + 2 mi walk

Got up and went to the gym! It was pretty dead due to Super Bowl Sunday. I did 15 min. on the big elliptical with arms — that thing is tough, then lifted arms and back. Then I did 15 min. on the regular elliptical with arms. Today I walked 2 miles and climbed stairs.

February 7 - 10 miles

10 a.m. run: 44 degrees, feels like 38, and 8 mph winds (I think weather.com lied). Long-sleeve cotton t-shirt, Nike running shorts, compression calf sleeves, visor, Garmin, mittens (took them off after mile 2). Ran with Lisa, and completed 10 miles in 1:42. Was so nice to have someone to chat with outside. I haven't run with a friend outdoors in months. It flew by. The first mile or two were tough, but after mile 6 I felt like I could go all day.

February 5 - 5 miles (dreadmill)

Oh my goodness! SO humid in the gym. (and 65 outside!) Thank goodness for Lisa. I got my end treadmill and did 5 miles (54:30?) and she did 6 miles. It was brutal. My left outer ankle/achilles hurt early on so I tightened my shoe laces and it was better. It's still stiff post-run but not painful or anything. My lungs and legs felt fine during the run/walk but it was so humid and hot in the gym.

February 3 - 30 min cardo + weights + 2.5 mi walk

Made it to the gym in the morning and did 20 min. on elliptical w/ arms with Lisa then 10 min. on the big elliptical with arms. Then arms/back workout. At work I walked 2 miles with my co-workers and did an extra .5, in addition to stairs.

February 2 - 3 mile run + 2 mile walk

Slept in this morning (nice to get 10+ hrs of sleep though). After a long lunch meeting at work (catered: tomato tortilla soup, arroz con pollo, kidney beans, caesar salad, marinated avocado, and warm rice pudding — okay, okay I had seconds!) I was happy for the 2-mile walk around the lake with my 2 co-workers. Throughout the day I managed to climb the 6-story building I work in (10 flights of stairs x 12 steps each = 120) 5 times. After work I ran 3 miles in 29:18, stopping a few times for walk breaks. It was 58 degrees, 81% humidity and NW winds 14 mph. Overall I felt okay, my left outer achilles felt a bit better but still stiff. Long sleeve oversized (bad idea) cotton t-shirt, shorts, New Balances, and Bondi Band.

February 1 - 40 min cardio + arms/back workout + 2 mi walk

Had the morning off so slept in then headed to the gym. Did 20 minutes on the big elliptical with arms (HR to 163) then a good arms and back workout, then 20 minutes on the regular ellipitcal with arms (HR to 145), where I chatted with Amy, who I haven't seen at the gym in ages. At 3 pm my two co-workers and I did a 2-mile walk around the lake (6 laps).

January 31 - Double Digits! 10 miles

It was 44 "feels like 37" degrees, 71% humidity, with NNE 17 mph (insert groan here!) winds, but grey and cloudy, and if you ask me - perfect running weather (minus the winds). Visor, long sleeve cotton shirt, shorts, compression calf sleeves, New Balances, mittens. The first 2 miles weren't too fun, but around mile 6 I felt great, and by 8, felt I could go all day. I made myself stop at 10 (1 hr 42 min), as the 1/2 marathon is three weeks away. Stopped for water a few times and downed a GU with caffeine almost to mile 6. My left outer ankle/side achilles is still and bothered me a bit early on in the run. Not sure what the deal is.

January 28 - 4 miles (dreadmill!) + 2 mile walk

Finally got up this morning and met Lisa at the gym - she ran 6, and I did 4 relatively easy (43:30) miles. My HR got up to 164, and I was running around 9:40 to 10-min. mile pace. Thank goodness for each other or we would have both called it a day after about a mile. I haven't done a treadmill run in more than a month. I've enjoyed running outside, even when it's boring, just for the fresh air and change of scenery. After the 4 I did some arm weights and stretches. My right knee hurt a tiny bit during the run/walk. At work I did two miles (6 laps) with my two co-workers and then throughout the day climbed 6 flights of stairs 3x.

January 27 - 2 mile walk

6 laps around the lake (in sneakes!) at work yielded about 2 miles (33 minutes) with two co-workers. I'm wearing my Garmin next time so we know for sure.

January 26 - 6 miles

63 degrees, sunny, windy - 18 mph - 4:15 p.m. Took two days off due to work travel. Felt good, even ran some in the 8:30-9 minute pace range. Finished 6 miles in 1:02, with walk breaks.

January 23 - 5 miles

Mid-morning 5 miles. Lots of walk breaks (maybe 2 days back to back wasn't a great idea after being sick), and lots of wind. Short sleeve shirt again, shorts, visor, and my new compression calf sleeves.

January 22 - 4 miles

Finally feeling better after being sick for a week+. I did 4 easy miles in 41 minutes, impressed that I was able to bounce back so quickly. Short sleeves, hat, shorts!

January 18 - 3 miles

Ugh, have been sick since Wednesday night so no running for me lately. Having the day off from work today, and breezy 65-degree temperatures, I set out in shorts, dri-fit short sleeve shirt, and visor. I aimed for three, and made it three but the lungs weren't having it. (had to walk a lot) The legs, on the other hand, felt fabulous. I wore my new ZXU calf compression sleeves from Jacksonville Running Company and they were awesome.