Training and Conference Week

Angela's 1/2 Marathon Training Schedule: Week 10
Monday: rest (conference night)
Tuesday: 3 miles at 9:20 pace (tempo)
Wednesday: rest (conference night....again)
Thursday: 20 minute run (easy)
Friday: 10 miles (long)
Saturday: rest

My posted training schedule isn't exactly following what Chad has planned for me during this week. But with conferences in the evenings on Monday and Wednesday nights, adjustments needed to be made. I am hoping to get my long run accomplished on Friday (it will be nice to have a 3 day weekend). With less work out time done during the week, hopefully I will be able to make the times that I am able to run....count!

I had to put off my 9 mile long run until today (Sunday) due to weather and the fact that we were given tickets to the KSU Men's basketball game yesterday! The run today was done in some pretty heavy fog even though I waited until almost noon to take out. I was still able to wear shorts on my run (I hate wearing pants to run) and I'm also loving my new fuel belt.

Collin playing "Hungry Hungry Hippos!" Better watch out while playing with him....the green hippo cheats! :)

Mitchell posing with both birthday hats at the KSU Women's game on Saturday night.

Face paint, cupcakes and fun before the KSU Women's game to celebrate Wille the Wildcats Birthday.

A friend like Amy

Amy and I at our senior prom in 1996.....I couldn't have asked for a better friend!

Amy and I with Mitchell and Christian at the Children's Muesum in Lincoln in 2006

Mitchell and Christian in early 2008. These two little boys are about 4 months apart in age and always have so much fun together. Through the years we have had many playdates together and they always pick up right where they left off.

3rd trimester mommies Amy and I in March 2008. It was so fun (or as fun as it could possibly be) to be pregnant at the same time together......with both sets of boys! :)

The Conklin and Bunger Boys in October 2008

October 2008 with Trevor and Collin who are just a little over 3 weeks apart in age.

Amy and I in December 2009 at Christian's birthday party. We don't get enough pictures together anymore.....with 4 active little boys playing when we get together, the camera's seem to get forgotten. :)

I continue to scan lots of great photos from the past and I couldn't help but dedicate this blog to my good friend Amy (Traudt) Conklin. As you can see from the photos....we have been friends since high school. Even though we drifted apart for a few years in college, somehow we both ended up in Kansas after completing our undergraduate degrees. Amy and her husband Rick moved to Lawrence, KS for Amy to attend Grad school at KU and just two years later Chad and I moved to Manhattan, KS and I started on my master's degree as well. Our husbands became fast friends from the start and since we lived just about an hour apart we had lots of great times together BC (before children). :)

Somehow, Amy and I were pregnant at the same time with BOTH sets of our boys. So you can imagine how great it has been to have built in playmates for the kids! It's a wonderful treat for the entire Bunger family when we are able to get together with the Conklin's and we wish we could see them more!

Through all the ups and downs of high school, college, marriage, children and beyond.....it's amazing to look back at the journey our friendship has taken us on. It's been almost 15 years since our high school graduation and we both have had many blessings since that time. For me, one of those blessings is having a friend like Amy. :)

Excellent Eight

Angela 1/2 Marathon Training Schedule: Week 9

Sunday: Rest

Monday: 40 minute run (easy)

Tuesday: XT

Wednesday: 4 miles @ 9:20-9:25 (tempo) not looking forward to this one!

Thursday: 20 minute run (easy)

Friday: XT or rest

Saturday: 9 miles (long)

Mitchell and I at the K-State Rodeo this weekend.

The boys all ready for the rodeo to begin! Thankfully, Collin's high fever that had been around for 3 days broke just in time for us to go....we had been talking about this for a long time and he was very excited!

Collin had to bring his very own cowboy along to the K-State Rodeo. Just another reason Manhattan is truly a great place to live!


I had a great 8 mile long run this past Saturday! After having several frustrating experiences running lately where all I wanted to do is STOP RUNNING, this has helped my confidence a great deal. My pace on Saturday was just under a 10:15 minute mile....still following the training plan to keep the long distance running slow to build a strong base. My previous two 1/2 marathons, I have averaged a 9:50 mile pace and I'm hoping to have a PR in April if I can keep training strong.

This week the training steps up a bit with a 4 mile tempo run (that's double what I did last week!) Then I will end the training schedule with 9 miles this week and 10 miles next week. I'm continuing the sequence of stretch, ice, stretch repeat.....hoping to stay healthy as the mileage starts to add up.

Less than 2 months to my third 1/2 marathon!!!!

A change in plans

I had a great easy run last night right as the full moon was rising. My Garmin's battery died and I ended up running almost 2.5 miles so I'm sure I ran quite a bit over the 20 minutes I was supposed to run. I felt great during the whole run, and it was one of those times that I felt like I could have kept running forever. Running in the darkness with the moon and streetlights along the way somehow feels like I am going faster, and I even listened to a little old school Metallica "Enter Sandman" during my route which seemed very appropriate. :) I hope to feel just as strong during my 8 mile run Saturday.

Chad and I have also encountered a change in plans when it comes to our spring race schedule. We are signed up to the run the Wickedly Fast 1/2 Marathon in Olathe, KS on April 16th, but Chad was planning on running Lincoln Marathon in May 1st....I was also flirting with the idea of running in the Lincoln 1/2 marathon as well but hadn't decided. This would mean running 2 1/2 marathons in 2 weeks...kind of a crazy goal for me! But we found out this week that both the 1/2 and full marathon are already closed and sold out for Lincoln.....bummer! We had no idea it would fill up so fast this year as they were taking 10,000 entries. However, Chad did some quick research and it now looks like he will be running the Oklahoma City Marathon on the same weekend, May 1st. He is already registered and we have a hotel room reserved. There is also a 1/2 marathon and a 5K during this event.

I am still unsure which race I will sign up for. I have heard the OKC course is flat and fast....however I have also heard that in a previous year, the wind was so bad during this race, that a lot of runners could not even finish. The idea of running 2 1/2 marathons in 2 weeks could still be an attainable goal....however I'd like to see how my next few long runs go and how my body is holding up before I officially sign up. Either way, it looks like we will be going south instead of north for Chad's May 1st goal of completing his 2nd full marathon.

There is nothing more precious than your little one sleeping! This night Collin fell asleep with his special bear in his shirt???
Mitchell's 100th day of Kindergarten! And he also lost another tooth that day. That makes 5 teeth he has lost now.....3 of them all on the top and all in a row. He has a very unique smile right now. :)

Ever since the boys have heard that they will have another cousin arriving in the fall, Collin has been calling his very special bear his "baby". And even putting the baby in his tummy (or under his shirt to be more specific). I guess this night he fell asleep with his baby in his tummy? Mitchell has tried to tell him that only girls can have babies in their tummies......

To my Valentine

Angela 1/2 Marathon Training Schedule: Week 8
Sunday: 40 minute run (already completed)
Monday: 2 mile tempo run at 2:20-2:25 pace
Tuesday: XT
Wednesday: rest
Thursday: 20 minute run (easy)
Friday: XT or rest
Saturday: 8 miles (long)

Our engagement picture in early 2001...I was student teaching in Grand Island and Chad was working as the Health and Safety Director for the American Red Cross in Kearney

Chad and his beloved 1995 Jeep. We were getting ready to watch the fireworks on the July 4th 1999. We had to sell the jeep shortly after we were married, but I have promised him that someday we will have another jeep.....someday! :)

August 2005 going to the first KSU football game of the season. Mitchell was just over a year old, it was unbelievably hot.....and the squirmy little one year old didn't even make it past pre-game before I took him home! This shot was also about 3 months post-op for Mitchell....I had forgotten how much swelling he had from his Frontal Orbital Advancment.

What an amazing adventure it has been with Chad! I had a chance to scan in several pictures this weekend and on my back to back runs this weekend I thought about all the Valentine's we have shared together.

Before I met Chad, I had never really had a boyfriend on Valentine's Day. Every year in high school I would see the massive amounts of deliveries at GINW of roses, ballons and other gifts and knew none were for me. In college I always seemed to be single on Valentine's as well....but I have to say, any low feelings I had experienced on Valentine's Day before quickly have been replaced when I met and started dating Chad. Not only has he always been thoughtful and amazing on February 14th he has always found a way to make me feel special through out our (almost) 12 years together.

So this blog is dedicated to my Valentine Chad.....who just keeps getting better with time!

100

It seems to me that I do quite a few blogs that involve numbers. Which is interesting because math was always my biggest downfall in school....especially in middle and high school!

However, my blog title today has nothing to do with running, rather it is to celebrate Mitchell's 100th day of Kindergarten! The 100th day of school was pushed back with all the snow days to February 14th and the picture above is Mitchell's finished project. We were to make a vest of a paper sack, find 100 of one specific item, and decorate the vest. Mitchell came up with idea of using 100 neon bendy straws and we worked together applying all 100 straws this past weekend. He did a great job and was excited to take it to class today!

I had yet another snow day today and am officially ready to say good-bye to this winter weather! And there is the added pain of knowing that we will have to make this day up now as well...no more snow please! I was able to get a 20 minute tempo run in today on our treadmill at home (which I seem to have a love/hate relationship with). I always seem to struggle when I run at home, but today I averaged a 9:13 mile pace which was much improved from last week when I also had to run at on our treadmill at home.

Be sure to check out Chad's new blog!!!!

http://tribunger.blogspot.com/2011/02/feb-8ths-workouts-and-stuff.html?spref=fb

I have been encouraging him to start blogging about his training and about the incredible meals he has been making!!! Not only is he a master at the grill, but he has become quite the chef in the kitchen as well! Last night he made California Burgers with homemade guacamole mayo and the night before we had grilled pork chops with a red roasted pepper roulle.....both were amazing!

1/2 of the 1/2

Angela's 1/2 marathon training schedule: Week 6
Sunday: Rest
Monday: 40 minute run
Tuesday: XT
Wednesday: 8 x 400 @ 2:10 (interval)....p.s. 8 is A LOT!!!!
Thursday: 20 minute run (tempo)
Friday: Rest
Saturday: 5 miles (long run)

Mitchell taking a picture of mommy and her new glasses (Collin is supposed to be in the picture as well, but we all know how fun it can be to get a 2 year old to sit still long enough for a picture!) Mitchell says these glasses make me look like a teacher. Guess that was the look I was going for?

Saturday Chad and I were able to run our long run together again, and I was very thankful to have him on the route with me to keep me going! I'm not going to lie....for some reason this 7 mile run wasn't my best. I guess I will always have to battle my mind a bit when I am doing distance. It also didn't help that I slipped on some ice within the first 2 miles of the run. I wasn't hurt at all....but it scared the holy heck out of me and I had a hard time settling down after nearly landing flat on my back.

It wasn't my strongest run, but I ran over 1/2 of the distance for a 1/2 marathon and I am ready to start my 6th week of training. After an unexpected 3 days off due to winter weather last week....I'm not sure how the boys and I will make it through a 5 day school/work week! :)