This was my first full week training post-surgery, but it was also abnormal because I had signed up for a half marathon on Sunday - my one true "rest day."  So, instead of the training plan-recommended 16 mile run on Saturday, I decided to do a 3 mile run (followed by 9 hours walking around Disney) and the race on Sunday.  The half marathon was good.  It was warm when I left the house at 5 am with almost 100% humidity and it stayed the way through the race with the cloud cover.  I ran with a (slower but still awesome) friend for the first half of the race until I calculated that I would be running an extra 30 minutes if I stayed at that pace.  That did not sound fun to me, so I politely excused myself from his company and ran ahead on my own.  I pushed myself pretty hard - hitting 8:53 pace for a mile, then averaging out to about 10:00.  My pace for the whole race averaged to 10:47 - not bad for running at 12:00 for half the race.

Before that, I did pretty good at the beginning of the week.  The runs went well and the gym circuit was good - it kicked my ass, but I did the normal 3 circuits (30 sec activity, 10 sec rest - for 12 exercises).  I did lose a bit of endurance in the two weeks I was off.  For instance, I was up to 12 pushups in 30 seconds...and I slipped back to 10 this week.  I expected to lose a bit, but I still pushed through it to try to normalize as soon as possible.  I was exhausted on Thursday, however - which also happens to be my "Friday" at work - I went to bed before 6pm.  And I honestly didn't feel great on Friday, so I decided to rest.  I'll blame it partially on the weather...it's been 70 and humid every morning for the last week.  Hopefully, next week will be better.

I woke up at 4:20 am to take care of the dogs I am dogsitting, then headed off to the half marathon around 4:45 (6 am start).  It was a balmy 71 degrees, 100% humidity.  No luck for me and these halfs.  :/  But, still a personal record!  No Disney characters to wait in line to see.  ;)  I would have been slightly faster but I ran with my (slower but still awesome) friend Spencer for the first half of the race - it was his first half.  Then, I was a bad friend and left him for the last half (I'll blame it on the only child part of me).  I made up a lot of time on the last half and averaged out at 10:47 per mile.

After I finished, I ran into friend/co-worker/runner Morgan who was running the 8k that started at 9 am (more like she found me after seeing that I finished) and had an amazing breakfast with Spencer (my running buddy) at First Watch.  I headed back to Kristin's to let the dogs out and shower, then headed into work for an 8 hour shift starting at noon.  As you can imagine, a long day.  :)

My recovery period ended on Wednesday.  Unfortunately, thunderstorms ruined what would have been my first run outside in two weeks, so I ran on the treadmill at my apartment gym.  The first mile was easy; the second mile was hell; and the third mile was the last mile, so I powered through it.  My chest hurt a bit and I was staring at a wall.  Not the best return, but I did 3.09 miles and was happy to do that.

Better weather arrived on Thursday and I was thrilled to get back on the road - my loop.  I started jogging and one mile into it, I glanced at the pace - 9:06!  I really felt that I had been going so slow, but this was one of my fastest starts.  Weird.  I felt good, so I tried to keep that pace and finished with 9:21 per mile for 6.44 miles.  Score!  I did my normal weight circuit on Friday and was able to lift normally.  My incision site has healed and despite having a tight feeling there, I completed the workout.  It feels better every day.

Today, I was babysitting my "niece," Skylar - my friend's adorable daughter - and I had my 8 mile run.  I decided it was safer (for both of us) to go to Flatwoods.  I studied the map after I got lost the last time, and we found our way with no problems today.  It was a little tougher pushing a ~20 lb. baby in a ~30 lb. stroller...more of a workout than expected!  I should invent something to attach to my waist and the stroller so both arms are free to move (as opposed to one of them holding onto the stroller).  I was able to keep my endurance run pace - 10:00 per mile.  We saw a lot of vultures and two bucks - DEER!  Skylar pointed all the animals out to me.  We had a nice lunch at Panera afterward.

I'm looking forward to a full week next week - including the Gasparilla Half Marathon.

The really really good news is that my cancer did not spread.

The "bad" news is I still can't run until Wednesday, February 12th per Dr. Cruse.  I am itching to run!  I never would have thought I'd miss it this much, but it is so meditative.  I feel so good after a workout - endorphins!  On the other hand, I'm also nervous because I will have missed two weeks of training.  And...it has been more tiring to get back into the routine at work than I anticipated, so...running 14 miles might also be challenging (moreso than normal, that is).  We will see.  I got the "REST" days down.  :)

Monday was my last day of dog-sitting, so I took Stella with me (far right).  It was our first night run together, and she was alert!  Her ears were up almost the entire time, but she was good - I only almost ran her over twice.  We were just under 10 minutes per mile - for an hour - and that did not seem to tire her.  When we got back home, she started wrestling with Sherman (the other big one) immediately.  Crazy kids!  I did my usually Tuesday circuit/sweat-fest and Wednesday was my first "Tempo B" workout - 10 minutes fast (talk in short, choppy sentences), 2 minutes brisk walk, and another 10 minutes fast.  I ran on the treadmill at the work gym - 8 mph for both 10 minute sessions.  That is a 7:30 per mile pace - the fastest I've run a mile (and more) in over 10 years.  I was very happy to do both 10 minute session that fast.  And also tired.  :)

After leaving work early on Thursday, I picked my parents up form the airport, went to Moffitt for my lymphoscintigraphy, we ran some errands including picking up the paint for the rest of my apartment makeover, and had dinner at Gino's.  Surgery was Friday, and I'm recovering today.  To read more about it, head over to my Life Blog.  Training is most likely suspended until my follow-up appointment on Wednesday.